Jacinda Ardern's fiancé 'nearly died after passing out while spearfishing' - as he reveals the advice he will give to their daughter Neve
- Clarke Gayford has opened up about fatherhood and his job deep fishing
- Ms Ardern, 38, and Gayford, 41, welcomed baby girl Neve in June last year
- The Kiwi TV presenter revealed he nearly died while free diving in Niue
- Gayford was spearfishing a dogtooth tuna when he ended up too deep
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's fiancé Clarke Gayford has revealed how he nearly died while spearfishing in Niue.
The 41-year-old, who presents fishing documentary Fish of the Day, opened up about getting up close and personal with ocean wildlife and how fatherhood has affected the risks he takes on the job.
Gayford revealed he once had a 'whoopsie' while spearfishing a dogtooth tuna off the small south Pacific island and almost didn't make it back alive.
Clarke Gayford, 41, who presents fishing documentary Fish of the Day, revealed how he nearly died while spearfishing a dogtooth tuna in the small south Pacific island of Niue
Gayford, who welcomed baby girl Neve with Ms Ardern last June, admitted fatherhood has also come to play a role in how he puts himself in potentially dangerous situations
'I ended up too deep and the line dragged me down to about 30 metres. I didn't quite make it back to the surface. I had a guide who grabbed me as I blacked out - he brought me around,' Gayford told the New Zealand Herald.
It wasn't until weeks later, he said, that he realised the gravity of the situation which served as a wakeup call and made him 'take stock' of his life.
Gayford, who welcomed baby girl Neve with Ms Ardern last June, admitted fatherhood had made him more risk averse because 'you are now thinking of someone else.'
But the father-of-one still wants his daughter to dream big.
'I'd just encourage her to have a go at whatever she has a passion for. I had an awesome family environment but I remember growing up in Gisborne thinking that there were limitations on what you could do', he said.
The doting dad also revealed how the new parents' spent their first night away from their baby when they travelled to China together.
Gayford is constantly working with wildlife while working on his nature show, Fish of the Day
Ms Ardern and Gayford who have been together since 2013, confirmed their engagement earlier this month
'We just spent the whole time talking about her,' he said.
The couple, who have been together since 2013, confirmed their engagement earlier this month after Ms Ardern was spotted wearing an engagement ring.
Wedding rumours had circulated since baby Neve was born, but neither of them was in a rush.
'I predict we will one day. We happen to have done things in reverse a little bit, but that happens in life sometimes too,' she told RNZ.
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Days after news broke of the upcoming nuptials, a coy Ms Ardern was unable to dodge reporters' questions about her recent proposal during a post-cabinet press conference in Wellington.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was spotted wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring at a ceremony at Pike River on the West Coast (left). The couple welcomed the birth of their first child Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford (right) in June last year
'This is a very public job and I'm quite happy to put quite a bit of ourselves out there. But there are some things I wouldn't mind keeping to ourselves,' she said.
But Ms Ardern confirmed the proposal took place with a beautiful backdrop at the top of Mokotahi Hill in Mahia on North Island's east coast.
'It was Clarke, myself, a member of the DPS (Diplomatic Protection Squad), a couple of locals from Mahia and a dog which tried to eat the chocolate that Clarke bought me at the same time, so it was very romantic.'
