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Man marries woman who helped save him after shark attack

A shark attack survivor has married the woman he credits for saving his life over four years ago.

Sean Pollard, 27, tied the knot with Claire Oakford on December 29 in an intimate ceremony on BP beach in WA’s Bunbury.

She is the same woman who rushed to Sean’s aid in October 2014 after he was attacked by two great white sharks while surfing at Wylie Bay near Esperance.

The couple wed in WA last month. Source: Melissa’s Photography / Sunrise
The couple wed in WA last month. Source: Melissa’s Photography / Sunrise

Claire, Sean’s girlfriend at the time, was one of a handful of people at the beach who helped bring him to safety as he clung to life and anxiously waited for medical help.

Sean lost his left arm and right hand in the attack which he described to 7 News as “such a surreal moment” and “completely life-changing”.

Following the attack, Claire was with Sean every step of the way as he continued his lengthy rehabilitation and the 33-year-old knew early on he was the man she was going to marry.

The pair tied the knot in an intimate ceremony. Source: Melissa’s Photography/ Sunrise
The pair tied the knot in an intimate ceremony. Source: Melissa’s Photography/ Sunrise

And last month, the pair’s dreams came true and they exchanged vows in front of close friends and family.

“I was a bit nervous at the start of the day,” Sean told The West Australian.

“We have been through a fair bit together, so it was good to make it official.”

The wedding capped off a stellar 2018 for Sean who became a Paralympian after switching his sporting exploits from surfing to snowboarding.

He took part in his first Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang during the winter after a trip to Canada prompted an observant coach to persuade Sean to take up the sport properly.