US surfer loses arm in shark attack

CatoCooper13

CatoCooper13

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AP - A shark bit off the left arm of a 13-year-old competitive surfer while she was lying on her board in clear water, Hawaiian authorities said.

Bethany Hamilton was attacked on Kauai's North Shore, authorities said. There was a single bite, and then the shark disappeared.

"There was no warning," said Kauai Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Kaden.

The teenager was surfing with her best friend and her friend's father, who immediately applied a tourniquet using a surf leash. Hamilton's mother, Cheri, said the move saved her life.

Tom Hamilton said his daughter was conscious and alert at a hospital. She lost her left arm just below the shoulder. Her arm had not been recovered.


The shark took a 40-by-20-centimetre chunk out of the surfboard, suggesting the fish was 3.6 to 4.5 metres long, Kaden said.

It was the fourth shark attack in Hawaii this year. Randy Honebrink, spokesman for the state Shark Task Force, said Hawaii averages three or four attacks annually.

Hamilton had already secured sponsorships and was expected to go pro, according to the Hanalei Surf Online Web site.


©AAP 2003
 
WaterRats13 said:
AP - A shark bit off the left arm of a 13-year-old competitive surfer while she was lying on her board in clear water, Hawaiian authorities said.

Bethany Hamilton was attacked on Kauai's North Shore, authorities said. There was a single bite, and then the shark disappeared.

"There was no warning," said Kauai Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Kaden.

The teenager was surfing with her best friend and her friend's father, who immediately applied a tourniquet using a surf leash. Hamilton's mother, Cheri, said the move saved her life.

Tom Hamilton said his daughter was conscious and alert at a hospital. She lost her left arm just below the shoulder. Her arm had not been recovered.


The shark took a 40-by-20-centimetre chunk out of the surfboard, suggesting the fish was 3.6 to 4.5 metres long, Kaden said.

It was the fourth shark attack in Hawaii this year. Randy Honebrink, spokesman for the state Shark Task Force, said Hawaii averages three or four attacks annually.

Hamilton had already secured sponsorships and was expected to go pro, according to the Hanalei Surf Online Web site.


©AAP 2003
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Sad for that to happen. What happen to the girl now?
 
I dunno...I had a look in the news section and there were no updates on what's happened with the girl. I just hope she's alright as well. I know she has gone through a traumatic period and hope she'll recover from it and pick up the pieces of her life and move on as much as she can with life.
 
Ouch! Now that's put me off swimming at the beach. Wonder why it didn't go on and attack her. I would have thought sharks were attracted to blood and so they would have kept eating especially if she was caught unawares. Strange but definitely very scary.
 
Ziusudra said:
Ouch! Now that's put me off swimming at the beach. Wonder why it didn't go on and attack her. I would have thought sharks were attracted to blood and so they would have kept eating especially if she was caught unawares. Strange but definitely very scary.
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maybe she had a small cut before the shark attack. who knows
 
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