Bethany Hamilton and the shark attack that nearly took her life

Pro surfer Bethany Hamilton sat down with Movieguide to talk about her tragic shark attack 20 years ago off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. A life-altering setback that saw Hamilton grow not only as a surfer but as a young woman.

On October 31, 2003, Bethany Hamilton attended a morning surf session with her friend Alana Blanchard, another Kauai surfing icon. Alana's father and brother were also present in the lineup.

More Surfing: Alana Blanchard: Riding the waves of fame, fashion, and fear

Hamilton and Alana were on their boards belly down while waiting for a wave set. Out of the blue, a massive tiger shark breached out of the water, shredding Hamilton's arm.

Alana Blanchard described the attack as lighting fast, which caught both surfers off guard. Alana helped Hamilton back to shore where Alana's father would fashion a tourniquet out of her rash guard, wrapping it around the stump of her arm.

Hamilton was rushed to the Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where she arrived in hypovolemic shock due to mass amounts of blood loss. Doctors calculated she lost over 60% of her blood!

Bethany was essentially dead but was brought back to life after extensive surgeries. It was at that moment she felt she was granted a second chance, a miracle of some sort.

A major traumatic moment for young Bethany, and a life-altering setback for her promising surfing career. Nevertheless, Hamilton was determined to continue pursuing her passion for surfing and after an intensive recovery process, she was back on her board just a month after the attack.

As news of the attack traveled around the island, a family of fishermen led by Ralph Young presented to investigators photos of a 4.5m (14 ft) shark they caught one mile off the attack site.

Surfboard debris were found in the shark's mouth alongside similar bite marks. In 2004, the local police officially confirmed that it was the same shark that attacked Hamilton.

After a successful recovery, Hamilton charged back into the water without any fear. She adopted a custom-made board that was longer and thicker than usual, which eased her ability to paddle.

It was not an easy process, however, Hamilton was driven by her inner fury to defeat fear and hopelessness. Just 26 days after the attack, Hamilton entered her first major competition on January 10, 2004.

A spectacular return to surfing granted her plenty of TV time. She won the 2004 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete alongside the Teen Choice Award.

Hamilton knew she would never be able to reach the peak of professional surfing but constantly felt blessed for being able to surf again. Hamilton would go on to write multiple successful books alongside a movie! She turned a traumatic experience into a life-changing career.

Now, Hamilton is married to Adam Dirks and has four children named Tobias, Micah, Wesley, and Alaya. "It is absolutely wild to think how my life started and where it is now and all the amazing yet challenging things in between," she shared on social media.

"I didn't wake up in the hospital thinking I was invincible and was gonna get back to surfing. After getting a hint of inspiration, I had to dream it up, flip my mindset, and be willing to do what I had not seen anyone else do," shared Hamilton in an Instagram post.

The Hawaiin surfer can now enjoy waves alongside her two eldest sons and her "hubby". "There is so much to be grateful for, and these past 20 years have been filled with incredible moments and huge overcoming seasons," Hamilton added in her social media post. She never gave up on her dreams!