EVERYONE WAS CHEERING

TUNNELS BEACH, KAUAI ISLAND, HAWAII 6:40 am, OCTOBER 31, 2003

It was a beautiful morning. Bethany Hamilton was surfing with her best friend Jane. The girls got on well together and took part in surf competitions. Bethany hoped to become a professional surfer. ‘I had no warning at all. The water was clear and calm. It was more like a swimming pool than the Pacific Ocean. I had my right hand on the board and my left hand in the cool water. We were waiting for the next big wave. I was thinking ‘‘I hope the surf gets better soon,’’ when suddenly I saw the shark. The attack happened so fast. The huge jaws of the four-metre shark covered the top of the board and my left arm. Then, I watched in shock while the water around me turned bright red. I didn’t scream. It’s strange, but there was no pain at the time. But I knew I had to get back to the beach quickly.’ While Bethany was recovering in hospital she asked everyone the same question: ‘When can I surf again?’

KILAUEA BEACH, KAUAI ISLAND, HAWAII Late afternoon, NOVEMBER 23, 2003

Less than four weeks after the shark bit off her left arm, Bethany was back on her surfboard. ‘At first I couldn’t stand up. My dad, who was in the water with me, was shouting ‘‘Bethany try it one more time!’’ So I did. When a wave came, I caught it, put my hand on the board to push up, and I was standing. Once I was on my feet everything was easy. I was all wet, but I could still feel tears of happiness on my face. Everyone was cheering for me. It was a great moment!’ Bethany trained hard and entered surf competitions again. In 2005, she won her first national championship.