bethani hamilton
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Nature's Hope
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BETHANI HAMILTON
Bethany Meilani Hamilton born February 8, 1990, is an American surfer. She is known for surviving a shark attack in which she lost her left arm, and for overcoming the serious and debilitating injury to return to surfing.
On October 31, 2003, Hamilton went for a morning surf along Tunnels Beach, Kauai with friends. Around 7:10 am, she was lying on her surfboard with her left arm dangling in the water, when a 15 foot Tiger Shark attacked her, ripping her left arm off just below the shoulder. Her friends helped her paddle back to shore, and fashioned a tourniquet out of a surfboard leash around what was left of her arm before rushing her to the hospital.
Despite the trauma of the incident, Hamilton was determined to return to surfing. Just ten weeks after the incident, she returned to her board and went surfing again. 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 harder to make up for the loss of her left arm. After teaching herself to surf with one arm, she has again begun surfing competitively.
In July of 2004 Hamilton won the ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete of the Year. She was presented with a special courage award at the 2004 Teen Choice Awards. Hamilton still aspires to become a professional surfer.
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