David Attenborough says 'the end is near' in heartbreaking 99th birthday confession.
Sir David Attenborough has reflected on his own mortality in a moving moment from his upcoming documentary about the world’s oceans.
As he approaches his 99th birthday on May 9, the legendary broadcaster acknowledged he is “nearing the end of his life.”
With a career spanning eight decades, the beloved naturalist opened up about his thoughts on the future while filming Ocean with David Attenborough, set to premiere on Disney+ later this year.
In the documentary, he also voices deep concerns about what lies ahead for the planet.
"When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity. Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true.
After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”
He added: "Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all."
The 98-year-old shared: "The world would be in a far, far worse situation now had there been no broadcasting of natural history. People have found it a source of fascination, beauty, and interest, which has become key to looking after the world."
@altitudefilms "If we save the sea, we save our world" OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH In Cinemas from May 8 🎟️ Book now: oceanfilm.net #OceanFilm #Ocean #DavidAttenborough
♬ original sound - Altitude
The documentary features a moment where Sir David Attenborough reflects on archival footage from 1957, capturing his first scuba diving experience on the Great Barrier Reef.
While he warns that we are “almost out of time,” Attenborough remains hopeful, expressing his belief that by establishing protected marine reserves and restricting harmful practices like overfishing, we still have a chance to restore ocean ecosystems.
The 98-year-old shared: "The world would be in a far, far worse situation now had there been no broadcasting of natural history. People have found it a source of fascination, beauty, and interest, which has become key to looking after the world."
Throughout his decades-long career, Sir David’s documentaries have played a vital role in raising global awareness of environmental challenges and have contributed to the development of measures aimed at safeguarding endangered species and fragile habitats.
Ocean with David Attenborough is releasing as a Global Cinema Event from May 8. It will also be made available on National Geographic, Disney Plus, and Hulu later this year.
