BETHANY HAMILTON on TODAY 12-11-2009 Girl Surfer Decades Most Interesting Stories-Good Footage

On October 31 2003, Hamilton went for a morning surf along Tunnels Beach, Kauai with friend Alana Blanchard, and Blanchard's father and brother. Around 7:30 a.m., she was lying sideways on her surfboard with her left arm dangling in the water, when a 14ft tiger shark attacked her, ripping her left arm off just below the shoulder. If the shark had bitten two inches further in, the attack would have been fatal. Hamilton had lost almost 60% of her blood that morning. Her friends helped paddle her back to shore, and fashioned a tourniquet out of a surfboard leash around what was left of her arm before rushing her to Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Her dad was supposed to have a knee surgery that morning but she took his place in the operating room. She then spent six more days in recovery at the hospital.

Despite the trauma of the incident, Hamilton was determined to return to surfing. Just three weeks after the incident, she returned to her board and went surfing again. Initially, she adopted a custom-made board that was longer and slightly thicker which made it easier to paddle. She has observed that she has to kick a lot more to make up for the loss of her left arm. After teaching herself to surf with one arm, she has again begun surfing competitively. She is now back to using competitive performance short-boards again.

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Sports

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• BETHANY
• HAMILTON
• TODAY
• girl
• surfer
• shreds

[Rosaliechick1]

She is like my inspiration :,)

[raemorgan44]

She's sooooooo inspirational! And her new movie come out April 8th (:

[babyboyaiden2]

I just watched soul surfer which I saw when I was like 4 I almost cried when I saw Thailand and what happend and I wish that that didnt happen to her with her arm being ripped off but she was so brave to get back on her bord

[RON323334]

I just learned of Bethany.Very inspirational to me.I lost my right arm 4yrs ago.I dod nothing but hate myself,Till I learned of her.GOD BLESS U Bethany.I no longer do nothing.Thank-You.

[SumthinzFishy]

Bethany, i love how so inspirational you are!

[Thaquisha]

Bethany ur my idol I love how u just keep believing in u I Love u

[Outbreak95]

I wanna surf so badly, but unfortunately I live in the Desert :p

[sofiagummibear]

i wanna meet her so baaaddd!!!!!!!!!!! i had a surfing accident and maybe meeting her will inspire me

[sofiagummibear]

i wanna meet her so baaaddd!!!!!!!!!!! i had a surfing accident and maybe meeting her will inspiring

[17babybird]

She is like my absolute hero. I would really like 2 meet her 1 day

[bparno]

She is without a doubt a princess warrior, who would ever venture back into the water again? She has the heart of a lion, and the calm of a lamb. She is blessed.

[bmanjingo]

I LOVE HER!!!