David Attenborough's heartbreaking end of life message in full as he makes emotional plea

made an emotional plea with the world as he . The wildlife expert has thrilled nature lovers for seven decades as he captured the essence of every corner of the globe.

However, at the age of 98, the legendary broadcaster issued a stark statement. He delivered the devastating confession as he opened up about his mortality and admitted he is 'nearing the end of his life' as he prepares to celebrate his 99th birthday on May.

In his new feature, he made an admission. He said: "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.

"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. If we save the sea, we save our . After a lifetime of filming our planet, I'm sure nothing is more important."

He went on: "My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Over the last hundred years, scientists and explorers have revealed remarkable new species, epic migrations and dazzling, complex ecosystems beyond anything I could have imagined as a young man.

"In this film, we share some of those wonderful discoveries, uncover why our ocean is in such poor health, and, perhaps most importantly, show how it can be restored to health. This could be the moment of change.

"Nearly every country on Earth has just agreed, on paper, to achieve this bare minimum and protect a third of the ocean. Together, we now face the challenge of making it happen."

Sir David has been fascinated by nature since ever since childhood. He studied natural sciences at before later joining the .

His first TV appearance came in 1954. He had initially been told that his teeth were ‘too big’ for him to be a presenter.

However, his career is unrivalled. Now, though, he has sadly told fans that he .

Through his documentaries, Sir David has long highlighted the environmental challenges facing the world. He has also been a big contributor to the development of initiatives specifically aimed at protecting endangered species.

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