It's your own personal relationship with Him.” Many people, including Bethany, believe her faith in God is what saved her (“My Story”). On Halloween morning in 2003, Hamilton and her best friend Alana Blanchard went surfing on the North Shore of Kauai. Blanchard’s father and brother were also with them. The surf was calm and Bethany and her friend were relaxing on her board with her arm in the water. Hamilton saw a grey flash and felt a short tug. Before she could realize what had happened, a 14-foot tiger shark had bit off her left arm. She claimed she felt no pain, but only noticed when the water surrounding her was filled with blood