Courtesy of Dave Pearson
- Dave Pearson survived a shark attack, but faced vitriol online for it afterwards.
- His isolation led him to found a support group for shark attack survivors, called Bite Club.
- The group now connects members across the world, helping them feel less alone.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dave Pearson, who survived a shark attack in March 2011 off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, and founded the survivor group Bite Club. It has been edited for length and clarity.