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Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability

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How do you stay calm in a life-threatening situation?

Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability

Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, speaking with podcast host Aleksandra King on The BEYOND Podcast. Derrick McManus says he relaxed in the moment while lying wounded on the ground, reasoning that anything better than death is a bonus.

Derrick McManus tells Aleksandra King what three hours on the ground after being shot were like, his forearm broken in two places and the gunman still firing. What he describes is the state of mind that kept him going while the shooting continued.

The doctor said I was 30 seconds from death. Anything better than death is a bonus.

Derrick McManusFormer South Australian Police STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability

With the gunman in the house for another 38 hours, the three hours on the ground were only the start of the siege. Aleksandra King calls what he describes serious mind control.

Watch this moment1:28 (opens in a new tab) In the episode
Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King on The BEYOND Podcast
Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King on The BEYOND Podcast.

Cite this page Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, “How do you stay calm in a life-threatening situation?”, at 1:28 in conversation with Aleksandra King, The BEYOND Podcast, 21 May 2026. Sourced.media. https://sourced.media/questions/how-do-you-stay-calm-in-a-life-threatening-situation/ (permanent identifier https://sourced.media/id/C_NGZNF7V8RE)

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Derrick McManusGuestAleksandra KingHost

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Human Durability

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Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND PodcastPhoto1:1Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND PodcastPhoto1:1Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND PodcastPhoto1:1Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND PodcastPhoto1:1Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND PodcastPhoto1:1Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, in conversation with Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityAleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, with Derrick McManusPhoto1:1Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, in conversation with Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityAleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, with Derrick McManusPhoto1:1Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, in conversation with Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityAleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, with Derrick McManusPhoto1:1

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The process is universal. A short video of Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast0:33The process is universal. · Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityShort video9:16We are trained to operate at 100%, 100% of the time: a short video of Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast0:46We are trained to operate at 100%, 100% of the time: Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityShort video9:16If you're getting shot, it's quite acceptable to fall over. A short video of Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast0:29If you're getting shot, it's quite acceptable to fall over. · Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityShort video9:16Everybody in our office started going, Adelaide, Adelaide. A short video of Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast0:38Everybody in our office started going, Adelaide, Adelaide. · Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityShort video9:16The majority of the day was a very ordinary day. A short video of Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast0:56The majority of the day was a very ordinary day. · Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityShort video9:16

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Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus and Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastGroup photo1:1Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus and Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastGroup photo1:1Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus and Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastGroup photo1:1Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus and Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastGroup photo1:1Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND PodcastDerrick McManus and Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastGroup photo1:1

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The synopsis video of Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, in conversation with Aleksandra King on The BEYOND Podcast14:53The synopsis: Derrick McManus and Aleksandra King on The BEYOND PodcastVideo1:1

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Quote from Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast: “We're all excited, but we are risk managers, not risk takers.”“We're all excited, but we are risk managers, not risk takers.” Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityQuote image1:1Quote from Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast: “I'm hit, I'm hurt, but I can still shoot.”“I'm hit, I'm hurt, but I can still shoot.” Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityQuote image1:1Quote from Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast: “We are trained to operate at 100%, 100% of the time.”“We are trained to operate at 100%, 100% of the time.” Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityQuote image1:1Quote from Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast: “If I'd just gone into pessimism, I've been shot, my life's going to be terrible, I wouldn't have had the strength to keep on fighting.”“If I'd just gone into pessimism, I've been shot, my life's going to be terrible, I wouldn't have had the strength to keep on fighting.” Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityQuote image1:1Quote from Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human Durability, on The BEYOND Podcast: “A brave person has predictable actions. A coward is not predictable.”“A brave person has predictable actions. A coward is not predictable.” Derrick McManus, former STAR Group officer and founder of Human DurabilityQuote image1:1Quote from Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, on The BEYOND Podcast: “How many of us don't have wills?”“How many of us don't have wills?” Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND PodcastQuote image1:1Quote from Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, on The BEYOND Podcast: “We're all in danger all the time.”“We're all in danger all the time.” Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND PodcastQuote image1:1Quote from Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND Podcast, on The BEYOND Podcast: “It's business as usual to get called to this high-risk situation that's going on.”“It's business as usual to get called to this high-risk situation that's going on.” Aleksandra King, host of The BEYOND PodcastQuote image1:1

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Derrick McManus: Shot 14 Times in a Police Siege

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