Bondi Rescue star opens up about the moment that sent him to a “dark place”
<p><em>Bondi Rescue</em> star Dean “Deano” Gladstone has saved countless lives during his 18-year career as a lifeguard on Australia’s most famous beach, but he too knows exactly what it’s like to stare into the face of death.</p>
<p>In 2006, Deano was the target of a coward punch that left him with lasting trauma. </p>
<p>“I was sitting at the football watching the game and someone ran up and king hit me,” he told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/bondi-rescues-dean-gladstone-reveals-he-spiralled-into-a-dark-place-after-he-was-king-hit/news-story/b5ced9ba41a7c273dfcefa05c88305b2" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Confidential</span></em></strong></a>. “I had some spinal damage and the whiplash which caused problems. I had my four front teeth knocked out, it was awful.”</p>
<p>More than the excruciating physical pain, Deano’s immune system was shattered and he also developed food allergies as a result of the assault.</p>
<p>“That sent me into a bit of a dark place,” he confessed. “I had to claw my way back to health with lots of home cooking, goodness and vegies and meditation and yoga and being kind to myself."</p>
<p>In addition to his lifeguard duties, Deano has since become a qualified yoga teacher, holistic health coach and has developed mindfulness and wellbeing programs with the help of a clinical psychologist.</p>
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLZVoNihb1m/" target="_blank">A post shared by Dean Gladstone (@deanogladstone)</a> on Oct 10, 2016 at 1:31pm PDT</p>
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<p>“I have to accept that life took me on this journey and led me on a different path that I wouldn’t have gone on and the people I’ve met since have been incredible.”</p>
<p>As for his high-stress, fast-paced job? He wouldn’t swap it for anything. </p>
<p>“The guys brought someone back to life on Tuesday,” he said. “If you could bottle that feeling and sell it, it would just be gold.”</p>
<p><em>Image: Dean Gladstone/Instagram.</em></p>
