Bethany Meilani Hamilton (born February 8, 1990) is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 professional surfer

Surfing

Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...

. She is known for surviving a shark attack

Shark attack

A shark attack is an attack on a human by a shark. Every year around 60 shark attacks are reported worldwide, although death is quite unusual. Despite the relative rarity of shark attacks, the fear of sharks is a common phenomenon, having been fueled by the occasional instances of serial attacks,...

 in which she lost her left arm, and for overcoming the injury to ultimately return to professional surfing. She wrote about her experience in the 2004 autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. In April 2011, the feature film Soul Surfer

Soul Surfer (film)

Soul Surfer is a 2011 American drama film about the life of surfer Bethany Hamilton. At the age of thirteen, Hamilton lost her arm to a shark attack. The film details the events surrounding this attack and her struggle during the aftermath...

was released, based on the book and additional interviews.

On October 31, 2003, at the age of 13, Hamilton went for a morning surf along Tunnels Beach, Kauai

Kauai

Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...

 with best friend Alana Blanchard

Alana Blanchard

Alana Blanchard is an American professional surfer. At 21 years of age, Blanchard has gained fame as "one of the best female surfers," Alana is a ASP World Tour surfer, based in Kauai, Hawaii...

, and Alana's father and brother.