Hannah Mighall
Encyclopedia
Hannah Mighall is a resident of Scamander
, Tasmania
, who is notable for surviving an attack
from a five meter (16.4 ft) great white shark
.
On January 11, 2009, Hannah was surfing in Binalong Bay
, near St Helens
, when the shark bit through her surfboard, latching onto her leg. With help from her 33 year old cousin Syb Mundy, she was able to fight the shark off and ride a wave back to shore. The attack was widely covered in newspapers, and even referenced on the January 16, 2009, episode of Saturday Night Live
.
Hannah has recovered from the incident and as of March 2009 has resumed surfing.
On January 20, 2009, Hannah was awarded a Medal of Courage from Paul Watson
, founder and president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Scamander
In Greek mythology, Scamander was a river god, son of Oceanus and Tethys according to Hesiod. Scamander is also thought of as the river god, son of Zeus. By Idaea, he fathered King Teucer....
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, who is notable for surviving an 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,...
from a five meter (16.4 ft) great white shark
Great white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
.
On January 11, 2009, Hannah was surfing in Binalong Bay
Binalong Bay
Binalong Bay is a small coastal town in northeastern Tasmania, situated at the southern end of the Bay of Fires. Originally a fishing hamlet, the town is now a village with a large proportion of holiday dwellings. It has a beach, small harbour and a cafe....
, near St Helens
St Helens, Tasmania
St Helens is the largest town on the north-east coast of Tasmania, Australia, on Georges Bay. It is located on the Tasman Highway, about 160 km east of Tasmania's second largest city, Launceston. In the early 2000s, the town was one of the fastest growing areas of Tasmania, and reached a population...
, when the shark bit through her surfboard, latching onto her leg. With help from her 33 year old cousin Syb Mundy, she was able to fight the shark off and ride a wave back to shore. The attack was widely covered in newspapers, and even referenced on the January 16, 2009, episode of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
.
Hannah has recovered from the incident and as of March 2009 has resumed surfing.
On January 20, 2009, Hannah was awarded a Medal of Courage from Paul Watson
Paul Watson
Paul Watson is a Canadian animal rights and environmental activist, who founded and is president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a direct action group devoted to marine conservation....
, founder and president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.