Surfing Teen Loses Arm in Shark Attack

AP via FoxNews ^ | Saturday, November 01, 2003 | N/A

[StriperSniper]

LIHUE, Hawaii

[StriperSniper]

From the look of the board I agree that it was most likely a Tiger Shark. Probably thought she was a turtle, their favorite food.

Hope she makes a quick recovery and gets back out there and kicks butt!

[South40]

Most surfers would be surprised that sharks are present under the waves.

[KAUAIBOUND]

This happened within five miles of my house. We have had a lot of rain lately, and the ensuing runoff had created murky water closer to shore than where this attack occurred. According to people I know here, the sharks are attracted to murky water, although I don't remember why. Ironically, although Bill Hamilton and his son Laird Hamilton are well known in surfing circles, and live in Hanalei, this girl is apparently not related. Laird Hamilton appeared in the initial surfing scene of Live and Let Die - some amazing surfing if you saw the movie.

[StriperSniper]

That's a Bottle Nose Dolphin most likely. That shot made it all around the fishing boards in the spring and most of the marine biologists agreed on that.

[John H K]

Oddly I hadn't seen that on the fishing boards but it's blatantly a dolphin.....shape of the dorsal fin is one thing, but it's clear the tail fin is HORIZONTAL, like that of dolphins, porpoises, and whales, not vertical like a fish.

[StriperSniper]

attracted to murky water, although I don't remember why.

Probably not the murky water per se but the edge. Most marine predators like to work edges of various sorts(clarity, tempature, depth, etc.).

[StriperSniper]

shape of the dorsal fin is one thing, but it's clear the tail fin is HORIZONTAL,

That's what tipped me off right away. Not having been on the scene, that's why I qualified it.

[orlop9]

Most surfers would be surprised that sharks are present under the waves.

You're kidding right? I used to surf years ago, before Jaws came out we barely paid attention to 'em in the water.

[resistance]

Just flew back from Kauai yesterday. What a wonderful place! We will pray for the girl surfer to recover quickly and resume her passion.

I told my wife we were selling our house and moving there.

At this point she interjected some reality. Something about our 3 kids in college, making a living, etc.

So I'm making a 5 year plan.

[John H K]

I have a cousin who had a large chunk of her thigh bitten out by a shark in Hawaii...she was wading in the surf, not sure which island. Her husband was in the Navy out there.

Pretty odd considering how rare the attacks are to have a victim in the family.

[South40]

That's a Bottle Nose Dolphin most likely. That shot made it all around the fishing boards in the spring and most of the marine biologists agreed on that.

Right. And I suppose you're now going to tell me Ed didn't really surf.

[StriperSniper]

You're kidding right?

Wasn't me who said that.

A few years after Jaws came out I was fishing with a friend in Barnegat Inlet before they built the new South Jetty and there was a popular streach of beach there. We were drifting for Fluke about 100 yards off where the swimmers were and had a Hammerhead about 14-15 feet long cruise right under our 16 1/2 footer. Of course we threw at him, but out little baits didn't even catch his eye, not that our tackle could've done more than annoy him. ;-)

[dagoofyfoot]

It was most likely a Tiger Shark.


Really sad for all...she was a rising star, if you look up Bethany Hamilton on the web, you can watch a quick surfing video of her.


Big prayer bump for the whole family

[StriperSniper]

Cool! I hadn't seen the animated version of that yet.

[jocon307]

"Big prayer bump for the whole family"

I'm with that. This story really shocked me. This thread is a little too much "inside surfing", but I don't want to fight.

Just don't want to hear how great sharks are now, that's all.

[billorites]

You'd seem 'em wearing their baggies
Huarachi sandals too
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo
Surfin' U.S.A.

[xrp]

Prayers for her and her family and it seems Fox News has its new sensationalist news item. Doubleteam even now that Scott/Laci Peterson is back in the news full throttle. FNC REALLY needs to learn when to let some stories go.

[StriperSniper]

FNC REALLY needs to learn when to let some stories go.

To be fair to them, it's the first day of the story and it's a slow news day. But I'm sure there will be follow-ups, you know they have lots of reporters who are lobbying to get this assignment in Hawaii. Hell, I might and I'm not even a journalist nor work for them. ;-)

[Sunshine55]

I just have one question. Why was this young lady not in school on a weekday before noon?

[StriperSniper]

Why was this young lady not in school on a weekday before noon?

It was only 7:30 in the morning, I don't know what time class started, but I never had any that early in high school. She was(I hope still is) planning on going pro, she needs all the practice time she can get in during daylight.