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And now for some Good News!
Other | Friday 6th September 2013 | kimzung
You've probably never heard of Hawaiian Pro Surfer and all round cool chick, Bethany Hamilton but if you ever feel like you need to be reminded of the power to overcome the many struggles in life, then there is no better example than Bethany as a role model for hope and inspiration. In 2003, whilst surfing the break out at Tunnels Beach in Kauai, Hawaii, she lost her left arm in a single whooping bite from a great white shark. She was only 13 at the time.
Not only did Bethany survive this terrible ordeal, she managed to make an astonishing recovery, giving TV interviews from her hospital bed! and only a few weeks after surviving this crazy attack, she was back in the ocean on a specially adapted customized surfboard. The first couple of waves threw her off balance but it didn't take long for this courageous young girl to amaze everyone by jumping straight up onto her feet in her first attempt back in the ocean after the accident. Once she was up on the board it was only a short time before she was surfing like a pro again. Her hopes were restored and within months of the attack, Bethany was in good enough shape to take to the waves again in a competitive tournament. In 2004, she wrote about her experiences in her autobiography "The Soul Surfer". As the requests rolled in from media around the world eager to hear her story, she went on to make heaps of television appearances and interviews. Then in 2007, the short documentary film made by Friends of Bethany, "Heart of Soul Surfer" was released, which tells her story of faith, strength and inspiration.
Last month the 23 year old Pro Surfer got married to husband Adam Dirks in a small ceremony in Hawaii which was covered by People magazine.
As a professional surfer, Hamilton has won her fair share of top competitions. She is sponsored by Rip Curl and is the brand ambassador for numerous small and large companies. She's worked with WorldVision and travelled the world doing charity work and of course, surfing the best breaks around tha globe (:
Surfing is her thing and she does it with style, pulling off the sickest moves in the water. She continues to represent amputee charities around the world and to take her message of overcoming the odds and to live life to the fullest whatever your circumstances and no matter how difficult, to people the world over.
Catch up with her news, events and story over at www.bethanyhamilton.com and best of all, watch this girl smack out some badass moves in surf competitions streamed live from the biggest most beautiful surf breaks in beaches around the world.
Big up Bethany, you da girl!
Kimzung
