Christian Surfer, Shark Attack Victim Shows Faith in New Documentary

By Kevin Jackson, Christian Post Reporter Monday, February 05, 2007

A new documentary called “Heart of a Soul Surfer” will tell audiences the true account of the life of a Christian surfer who became the victim of a shark attack when it premieres this week.

Released by Walking on Water, a Christian non-profit organization that attempts to use surfing as a method to share faith with young people, the film depicts the faith of Bethany Hamilton, a Christian who lost her arm to a 14-foot tiger shark at the age of 13.

According to a statement by Mike Doyle, Walking on Water's director of outreach, the documentary “digs deep into the heart of Hamilton's abiding faith in God, and tackles difficult questions such as, ‘Why does God allow bad things to happen in our lives?’”

Hamilton had her shark attack accident on Oct. 31, 2003. Rather than discontinuing her pastime, she viewed the event as a positive experience and found what she felt was her purpose in life. After a short break of only three weeks, she returned to the ocean to start up surfing again.

Nineteen months later, Hamilton went on to win the 2005 National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) National Surfing Championship, the highest profile amateur competitive surfing championship in the United States.

The young surfer also authored a best-selling book entitled Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board.

"Bethany is really an inspiration to anyone who's facing adversity or questioning the power of faith in their lives," Doyle said in a statement. "She's basically taken an event that could've easily ruined someone and used her faith and strong spirit to grow from it and help others."

The documentary will feature exclusive footage of Hamilton surfing and the scene before the shark attack. It also includes her starting attempts at surfing with only one arm and her performance at the 2005 NSSA National Surfing Championship.

“Heart of a Soul Surfer” opens on Feb. 9 at the Pierside SurfCity 6 Cinemas in Huntington Beach, Calif. It will also have its first viewings in other parts of Southern California. Admission is free.