Survival stories are everywhere. But Discovery Channel's hit series I Was Prey hit a different nerve when it first landed on the screen. It wasn't just about the blood or the jump scares. It was the eyes. Those wide-eyed, slightly haunted looks from real people sitting in a chair, recounting the exact second they realized they were no longer at the top of the food chain. If you've spent any time scrolling through I Was Prey episodes, you know that the show doesn't rely on cheesy CGI or over-the-top dramatics. It relies on the raw, unfiltered terror of a human being realizing a grizzly bear or a bull shark has decided they are dinner.
Nature isn't cruel. It's indifferent. That's the vibe of the show.
The Raw Appeal of I Was Prey Episodes
Why do we watch this stuff? Honestly, it’s probably a primal thing. Watching someone survive a literal nightmare makes us feel like maybe we could too. The show’s structure is pretty straightforward, but it works. You get two stories per episode. They use a mix of "talking head" interviews and high-quality reenactments. But what really sets these episodes apart from your standard "Shark Week" fare is the pacing.
It’s slow. Then it’s fast. Very fast.
Take the story of Greg Matthews. He’s a guy who went out hunting in Alaska and ended up being the one hunted by a brown bear. In his episode, you aren't just seeing a bear attack; you’re hearing him describe the sound of his own bones crunching. That’s the level of detail these segments get into. It’s gritty. It’s visceral. Most importantly, it’s all true. These aren't scripts written by a writer’s room in Hollywood. These are memories etched into the brains of survivors who, by all accounts, should be dead.
The show first aired back in 2017 and quickly became a staple for people who love true-life survival horror. It’s produced by Hit+Run, and they clearly have a knack for finding the right people to tell these stories. You don’t feel like you’re watching a performance. You feel like you’re sitting across from someone at a bar while they tell you the craziest, most terrifying thing that ever happened to them.
When Nature Hits Back: Key Moments in the Series
The diversity of the predators in I Was Prey episodes is actually kind of staggering. It’s not just the "usual suspects" like lions and sharks. We’re talking about hippos, leopards, rattlesnakes, and even a rogue moose.
The Underwater Nightmare
One of the most famous segments involves a man named Paul de Gelder. He was an Australian Navy diver. You’d think a guy like that would be safe, right? Wrong. During a routine exercise in Sydney Harbour, a bull shark grabbed him. He describes the sensation not as a "bite," but as a massive, crushing pressure. He lost a hand and a leg that day. Watching him talk about it is heavy stuff. He doesn't sound angry at the shark. He sounds respectful of it. That’s a common theme you’ll notice across several seasons: survivors often end up with a deeper, albeit more terrified, respect for the animals that nearly killed them.
Close Encounters in the Woods
Then you have the "Backyard Terrors." These are the ones that really get under your skin because they happen in places that feel safe. A jogger in a park. A hiker on a well-marked trail. One episode features a woman named Anne Hjelle who was mountain biking in California when a mountain lion leaped from the brush and clamped onto her head. Her friends literally had to engage in a tug-of-war with a cougar to save her life. It’s insane.
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Most people think they’d know what to do in that situation. "Fight back," "Play dead," "Make yourself big." But when you listen to the survivors in these episodes, they all say the same thing: instinct takes over. Your brain goes into a weird, hyper-focused state where time slows down.
How the Show Handles Trauma and Survival
It would be easy for a show like this to be exploitative. To just focus on the gore. But I Was Prey actually spends a lot of time on the aftermath.
Survival isn't just about getting away from the animal. It’s about the surgeries. It’s about the PTSD. It’s about the long road to walking again or regaining the courage to go back outside. The producers usually include real photos from the hospital or the scene of the attack, which adds a layer of "oh, this is very real" that you don't get from scripted dramas.
There is a psychological weight to these episodes.
You see it in their faces. Even years later, the survivors' voices might crack when they mention a specific detail. A smell. A sound. The feeling of fur. It’s a masterclass in human resilience. You’re watching people who looked death in the face and somehow blinked last.
Season Breakdown and Where to Start
If you’re new to the series, you don’t necessarily have to watch them in order. Each episode stands alone. However, the later seasons—specifically Seasons 4 and 5—upped the production value significantly. The reenactments became more cinematic, and the storytelling got tighter.
- Season 1: Focuses heavily on iconic predators (Grizzlies, Great Whites).
- Season 3: Starts venturing into more "freak accident" territory with less common animals.
- Season 5: Features some of the most harrowing rescue stories in the series' history.
Honestly, just pick an animal you’re afraid of and find that episode. It’ll be a wild ride.
Misconceptions About Animal Attacks
Watching I Was Prey episodes actually clears up a lot of myths. People think sharks are mindless man-eaters. They aren't. Usually, it's a case of mistaken identity or a "test bite" that just happens to be catastrophic for a human. People think you can outrun a bear. You can't. They can hit 35 mph.
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The show does a great job of explaining why the attack happened without blaming the victim or demonizing the animal. Sometimes, it’s just bad luck. You stepped on a stingray. You got too close to a mother moose. You were in the wrong place at the exactly wrong time.
Expert commentary (often from biologists or park rangers) is sometimes woven in to explain the animal's behavior. They’ll explain that the shark was likely confused by the surface vibrations or that the bear was defending a food cache. It adds a level of educational value that makes the show feel more like a documentary and less like "disaster porn."
The Science of the "Fight or Flight" Response
What’s fascinating about the narratives in these episodes is the description of the "flow state." Survivors often describe a moment where the pain disappears. This is biology at work. When a predator attacks, the brain floods the body with adrenaline and endorphins.
In the episode featuring a man attacked by a hippo (which are surprisingly one of the most dangerous animals in Africa), he describes being pulled underwater and feeling "calm." That’s the brain’s way of trying to keep you functional enough to find an escape route. It’s only afterward, when the adrenaline wears off, that the true scale of the injuries becomes apparent.
The show captures this beautifully. It shows the frantic struggle, followed by the eerie silence of the "shock" phase.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Outdoor Adventure
You probably shouldn't watch five hours of this show right before a camping trip. But, if you do, there are actual lessons to be learned. The survivors often point out things they would have done differently.
Carry Bear Spray. In almost every bear attack episode, the survivor either didn't have spray or couldn't reach it in time. If you're in bear country, keep it on your hip, not in your pack.
Don't Hike Alone. The survivors who were with friends often lived because someone else was there to scream, throw rocks, or call 911. Solitary hikers have a much lower survival rate in these stories.
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Watch the Water. If you're in an area known for sharks or alligators, avoid murky water or swimming at dusk/dawn. That’s peak hunting time.
Pay Attention to Body Language. Many attacks in the show were preceded by warning signs. A hiss. A growl. Ears pinned back. If an animal is giving you a warning, take it. Back away slowly. Don't turn your back. Don't run—running triggers a predatory chase instinct.
Final Thoughts on the Series
The legacy of I Was Prey isn't just about the scares. It’s a testament to the fact that we are part of a much larger, much more dangerous world than our climate-controlled living rooms suggest. The show reminds us that nature is powerful, beautiful, and occasionally deadly.
It’s about the thin line between a normal Tuesday and a fight for your life.
If you want to understand the reality of survival, skip the "how-to" videos for a second and just listen to the people who have been there. Their stories are more informative than any manual. They lived through the impossible, and they have the scars to prove it.
To get the most out of your viewing, look for the episodes featuring "Apex Predators" first. They provide the clearest look at how human biology reacts under extreme duress. You can find most seasons on Discovery+, Max, or through various VOD services.
Check the "Survival Guide" segments if they are available in your region; they often feature extra footage of the survivors explaining their recovery process in more detail. This gives you a much fuller picture of what it really means to be "prey" and then, ultimately, a survivor.