A stunningly sad and wrenching story seems to have just developed. The family of famed surfing champion Bethany Hamilton is enduring the unfathomable loss of their 3-year-old son, Andrew. As you might recall, Bethany is known for her resilience after surviving a shark attack in her teenage years. She came back not only to live her life but also to achieve great fame and honor in the sport of surfing. Bethany is the first female surfer to be inducted into the prestigious Surfers’ Hall of Fame. They are a close family, as you can see in this photo taken from her Instagram account, featuring her husband Adam and their two sons.
**A Turn of Events That Shocked to the Core** On October 18, 2024, Timothy Hamilton, older brother to Bethany, shared mind-numbing news on Instagram. His son was dead. Little Andrew was gorgeous and golden and was the darling of not only his immediate family but also his extended family, including aunts, uncles, and grandparents. They were all in love with him. They had no reason not to be. Two days before Andrew would be buried, Timothy’s post would leave even more questions in the air. Why? How? Could this have been prevented? For those who had never met Andrew and even for those who had never met the Hamiltons, the pain of all that suffering and all those tears felt real and right to mourn.
**Sorrowful Faith: A Tribute by Bethany Hamilton** Bethany Hamilton, who inspires millions with her courage and faith, shared an emotional tribute to her beloved nephew, Andrew, who is dearly missed by the entire family. In a space where they could only hold onto fathomless faith, Bethany, with the help of her brother and the entire family, recited a prayer embodying their deep-seated belief that Andrew is now in the very presence of Jesus. The word “heartbreaking” does not do this justice. Yet, in the words of someone I love, the attack on their family should also be seen as part of a divine story. Although nothing will ever be able to replace Andrew, his life was, and still is, a testament to the mighty works of God in the lives of a young couple who had an unimaginably hard row to plow.
**Community in mourning** The very sad situation has added to the already significant heartbreak being felt. According to a detailed account on the fundraising page set up for Andrew, the Hamiltons’ young son, who was not yet six years old, had become ill with fever and vomiting. In an attempt to make him feel better, his parents ran a shallow bath. The family was just a few feet away in the living room and kitchen when they realized that Andrew’s condition was dangerously declining. Despite their quick actions and everything the hospital staff did, Andrew was left with a condition that no one could understand. His body endured a lot, and in the end, he didn’t make it.
**A Deluge of Backing** The Hamilton family has a huge support group that stands in solidarity with them. Messages of sympathy keep pouring in, and the offers of assistance alongside them are almost spellbinding. Bethany Hamilton is one of the most resilient figures of our time. She survived a horrific shark attack, fought back, and went on to not only live an extraordinary life but also an extraordinarily public one. Millions know her story. “Soul Surfer” made sure of that. Almost equally as many know about her family’s profound and very recent sadness, the loss of a husband and father. It has even been debated whether the circumstances of Adam Hamilton’s death (drowning) might have been story-worthy enough to include in the second half of “Soul Surfer.”
A Faith and Love Heritage
The Hamilton family stands together in the face of the heart-wrenching death of Andrew. They bind themselves tightly with a shared love and further solidify their steadfast faith in God. The presence of Andrew was all too brief on this earth, but the memory serves as a powerful reminder of what the Hamilton family had and continues to have—an amazing bond. They refuse to let grief overtake them. Instead, they have chosen to rally around one another and press on. The Hamilton family’s story is a treasured one to those who know it.
