Surfer Bethany Hamilton shares powerful message
Surfer Bethany Hamilton issued an inspiring and powerful message Thursday on the 16th anniversary of losing her left arm in a shark attack off Kauai, Hawaii, at age 13.
Hamilton, holding her young son with her right arm, returned to the place where she encountered a 15-foot tiger shark that took away a limb but not her dreams. She posted this message on Facebook:
“These are the waters I lost my arm however many years ago today,” she wrote.
“I can be here with contentedness knowing that from awful times beauty can come. Thank you God! As life has gone on I cherish all that I have, my faith, family, the ability to bring hope, surfing, the challenges, the over-comings and much more.
“Cheers to life and all the craziness and beauty we face. We can choose who we become through it all!”
Hamilton chose to continue her dream of becoming a professional surfer and she fulfilled that dream.
After the shark attack on Oct. 31, 2003, Hamilton returned to surfing four months later and was back surfing competitively less than a year after that. She went on to win several surfing contests, and competes to this day.
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Hamilton won the 2004 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete and was honored with the Courage Teen Choice Award. Her 2004 book “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family and Fighting to Get Back on the Board” details her ordeal, and the 2018 movie “Unstoppable” chronicles the attack and life since then.
Hamilton has since married, has two young sons and lives on Kauai.
“Wow. I am so inspired by your strength and to face these waters that forever changed your life,” wrote one fan on her Facebook post. “I am in awe of YOU! Keep living life to the fullest and enjoying your family which is your strength.”
Photo of Bethany Hamilton in action at the 2019 Vans U.S. Open of Surfing by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images. Photo of Hamilton exiting water during World Surf League Surf Ranch Pro in 2018 by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images.