Bethany Meilani Hamilton (born February 8, 1990) is an American professional surfer and writer who survived a shark attack in 2003. She lost her left arm but didn’t let her circumstance dictate her happiness. With determination and immense faith, she miraculously returned to professional surfing.
Staging a comeback from such a devastating experience is one many never expected because a traumatic accident like she had should naturally mean the end of her dreams.
Hamilton’s story is centered on perseverance and immense willpower as explained in her 2004 autobiography “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board.” It was adapted into the 2011 feature film called “Soul Surfer.”
Below is a short documentary of how an unfortunate incident led to one of the greatest comeback stories ever told:
Oscar Lark is an author passionate about making a difference in the lives of others.
