Is Bethany Hamilton Legit?

[MightyMagician]

DISCLAIMER: I am not denying a shark ripped her arm off, rather I am putting her story into question. Yes, I hate her character, but I praise her abilities and her continued perseverance. I'm making an effort to have a good thread, and I do not appreciate attacks, so please don't reply if you aren't willing to go out of your comfort zone and post in a civil matter. All quotes are taken from https://www.bethanyhamilton.com

BACKSTORY: Halloween 2003, Bethany and childhood friend Alana Blanchard decide to for an early swim in the deep ocean waves to chill out and see the turtles. While swimming on their boards, Bethany feels a "tug" on her surfboard and finds out she has had her arm bit off (Assuming it was a shark because she didn't know at the time.). Bethany lost over 60% of her blood, but claims she felt normal until she was enroute to the emergency room, when she was just feeling numb. Devoid of any mental trauma of the incident, she strives to learn to surf again immediately after recovery, and is a major celebrity athlete on TV and in competitions. Her anthology of memoirs, Soul Surfer, is adapted into a Hollywood film that has made millions of dollars to this day in the US. She has also starred on numerous other entertainment attractions such as: The Amazing Race, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader, Dolphin Tale 2, etc. She also spends a great deal working with charities as you can see on her site. Oh and if you read the Daily News in the US you should know that she's surfing and skateboarding 6 months pregnant.

Bullet Points: -Called a girl a Christ killer with friends numerous times with her friends and told her she'd burn in hell. (Anonymous poster commented this on a blog January, 2004.
-How does a a shark bite you, rip your whole arm off, and you feel nothing?
-Why didn't she feel any pain, or anything, until she was rushed to the hospital?
-Numbness started enroute to hospital: Circulatory and physical shock starts here.
-No shock until you're going to the hospital? Was she on painkillers at the time to purposely block all pain?
-How come nobody at shore didn't use a telescope or communicate with nearby ships to look for sharks that could have helped people warn Bethany? Shortly after she was in the water, somebody saw a shark. Was this intentionally set up for a walk to fame and money?
-Obviously Bethany never cared to check despite her young age of 13 years.
-How much money, if any, has she donated to charities?
-Make a Wish Foundation statement: Doesn't mention donating money, just spends time with the kids. If she was donating millions, wouldn't these kids have replacement arms by now, like the amputees?
-From Soul Surfer alone, she has at least $30m. Why does she need so much money if she isn't donating it?

My take: A. She did the shark attack as a publicity stunt that went horribly wrong, and that losing an arm wasn't what she intended.
B. She did it on purpose for the money and fame.

Is she legit or not? Try and prove it to me.

[FlyingJesus]

I don't think anyone plans on swimming with sharks in an attempt to make money, and it wouldn't be a story without the injury anyway since loads of people notice sharks while out surfing and it's just common practice to come back in - my brother in law has been nudged by passing sharks on his surfboard before, it's not a story in itself. She might not be a very nice person idk but lots of people aren't nice, doesn't mean that they lie about having their arms bitten off

[Evanora]

i love bethany hamilton she is great child of the universe

how dare u accuse her of such things you should be ashamed of yourself

[lemons]

this is the same guy who claimed anne frank is still alive lol

yes i loved bethany hamilton on amazing race she was a super star

[MightyMagician]

I completely understand she couldn't make money right off the bat, at least not like what Soul Surfer generated. She had interviews at first, but nothing crazy besides competitions. I brought out the publicity stunt idea because I was giving her the benefit of the doubt that she wasn't delusional and didn't decide to lose an arm on purpose. Point is: Injury still happened either way, though the publicity stunt would in theory have been for a quick media/newspaper story.

- - - Updated - - -

i love bethany hamilton she is great child of the universe

how dare u accuse her of such things you should be ashamed of yourself

Yes, I know she is not a completely bad person: She's the Oscar Pistorius of surfing and she's an activist for those who aren't as fortunate. I'm not spreading hatred to her, I'm just questioning her story/character.

[MightyMagician]

this is the same guy who claimed anne frank is still alive lol

yes i loved bethany hamilton on amazing race she was a super star

I gave solid points on that thread and was civilly debating until I was being attacked. I'm going to be revising that thread within the next week with an ETA of Saturday or Sunday, in EST.

Yep, Bethany was a superstar at physical challenges but she had zero mental ability at mental tasks. She definitely shined on the Leg 5 roadblock, Leg 2, the bridge task, Rappelling off the Blue Grotto cliff, and Basketball leg 11. She won only 3 legs, 2 of which were spoonfed to her via Express Pass, and a Fast Forward. Unfortunately, she and Adam came next to last all NEL's and came dead last at the finish line because she chose the roadblocks long on the last leg. She's average, I guess.

[Ms.Aquamarine]

Bullet Points: -Called a girl a Christ killer with friends numerous times with her friends and told her she'd burn in hell. (Anonymous poster commented this on a blog January, 2004.

I'm guessing you saw this here: http://txfx.net/2004/01/14/enough-of...ilton-already/

It seems like you haven't completely read her blog posts and other information on her website based on some of your bullet points.

I'll use this as an example: 'Why does she need so much money if she isn't donating it?'
http://bethanyhamilton.com/2011/12/12-days-of-giving/
http://bethanyhamilton.com/about/bethanys-blog/

Also hate is such a strong word my friend!

[FlyingJesus]

the publicity stunt would in theory have been for a quick media/newspaper story.

Which wouldn't have happened at all since as explained, simply seeing a shark while surfing is not a newsworthy story. It's a completely bunk theory

[MightyMagician]

I'm not saying she isn't donating anything, I'm just saying she might not be donating personal money. She likely gets enough from all those sponsors and fundraisers. Yes, I got this anon comment from there, but it was made a few months after she lost her arm, she wasn't a national icon then so why would that person need to lie? Hate is a strong word, but I don't hate her in general, I just hate that she makes all this money after religiously insulting another her age many moons ago - I still love her ability to surf with one arm and that she's an activist for unfortunate people.

Publicity stun would follow: Shark tries to eat her alive but she escapes and lives to tell the tale. That would generate a small story.

[FlyingJesus]

No it would not, and it wouldn't require actually going near a shark if she was planning to falsify it anyway