Sir David Attenborough says 'the end is near' as he delivers devastating confession

has opened up about his thoughts on life and death focusing on the world's oceans. As he approaches his 99th birthday on May 9, the broadcaster expressed that he is "nearing the end of his life."

The wildlife expert has and referred to his own mortality while discussing his upcoming series for Disney+, set to premiere later in the year. In his new feature, Ocean with David Attenborough, he made an admission.

"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 said.

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He also shared his deep concerns over the ocean's deteriorating condition, admitting: "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."

However, Sir David held onto optimism stating that marine environments can recover robustly. He maintained: "If we save the sea, we save our . After a lifetime of filming our planet, I'm sure nothing is more important.'

Attenborough's reflections are paired with historical footage, including scenes from 1957 when he first scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef, reports . Although he warns that time is running out, Sir David Attenborough remains hopeful that by safeguarding marine reserves where is prohibited, the ocean's ecosystem can recover.

Through his documentaries, Sir David has long highlighted the environmental challenges facing the world and contributed to the development of initiatives aimed at protecting endangered species.

The 98 year old broadcaster observed: "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."

In an interview with the Telegraph a few years ago, David acknowledged that he was "coming to terms" with the fact that as finding the right words takes longer, you can "run into problems", as evidenced by his struggle to recall the name of a plant in front of him.

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