Bondi Rescue’s Dean Gladstone reveals he spiralled into a ‘dark place’ after he was king hit

BONDI Rescue star Dean ‘Deano’ Gladstone knows what it’s like to save someone’s life. He also knows what it feels like to need saving yourself. He opens up on the people he’s saved and the moment he was assaulted as he spiralled into a “dark place”.

BONDI Rescue star Dean ‘Deano’ Gladstone knows what it’s like to save someone’s life. He also knows what it feels like to need saving yourself.

Gladstone has been a lifeguard for 18 years, 13 of which have been filmed for the Channel 10 global hit which has aired in over 100 countries.

He says there is “no greater feeling than the adrenaline rush” of saving someone’s life.

“The guys brought someone back to life on Tuesday,” he told Confidential. “If you could bottle that feeling and sell it, it would just be gold.”

Bondi Rescue star Dean Gladstone opens up on his life as a lifeguard and his past life. Picture: Theo Fakos

Gladstone says he’s revived at least 10 people in his career, but one sticks in his mind the most.

“There was a lady named Candice who drowned and I was on my lunch break,” he says. “I heard a kerfuffle and ran down and helped bring her back to life. I bumped into her at the park with her kids a few years later and her daughter ran over and said ‘you saved my mummy’ and it was just amazing, I started crying ­instantly. I’m really lucky I’ve had the opportunity to do some really special stuff.”

But Gladstone has his own incredible story of survival and recovery after he was assaulted in 2006.

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He has spent the last 13 years filming Channel 10s Bondi Resuce. Picture: Supplied

“I was sitting at the football watching the game and someone ran up and king hit me,” he says.

“I had some spinal damage and the whiplash which caused problems. I had my four front teeth knocked out, it was awful. ”

Gladstone developed food allergies and immune sensitivities as a result of the trauma. “That sent me into a bit of a dark place,” he said.

“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.”

He also became a qualified yoga teacher, a holistic health coach and worked with a clinical psychologist to develop programs that aid mindfulness and wellbeing.

He brought himself back to his normal self after working on his health, which included becoming a qualified yoga teacher. Picture: Supplied

“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.”

During his appearance at the Byron Spirit Festival in April next year Glad­stone is hoping to inspire others to try their hand at yoga and live happier, healthier lives.

“Some people are scared to go to yoga studios and yoga jargon sometimes scares people off, so I’m hoping help people become more inter­ested in it,” he says.

“It’s really exciting to do some bigger workshops. Hopefully I can encourage people to get ­a little bit healthier.”