When Bethany Hamilton was 13 years old, on October 31, 2003, she was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing at Tunnels Beach, Kauai. The shark bit off her left arm just below the shoulder while she was lying on her surfboard
. Despite losing over 60% of her blood and being in hypovolemic shock, she was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery
. Remarkably, Bethany was determined to continue surfing and returned to the sport only 26 days after the attack, adapting by using a custom surfboard and learning new techniques to compensate for the loss of her arm
. Within two years, she won her first national surfing title and went on to become a professional surfer, inspiring many with her story of courage, faith, and perseverance
. Her experience has been widely recognized, including awards such as the MTV Teen Choice Award for Courage and ESPN’s Best Comeback Athlete ESPY award. Her story was also made into the movie Soul Surfer and she continues to compete professionally and inspire others worldwide
