On May 24th, 2023, Ali Truwit tragically lost her leg to a shark attack. She and her friend managed to fight off the shark and swim back to the boat where her friend applied a tourniquet to stem the bleeding. She was then airlifted to the hospital where they then amputated her left leg just below her knee.
When she would hear water it would “trigger flashbacks.” She said that “the temperature of the water sends electric shocks throughout my leg.” But at the same time, she said there were glimmers of hope and she added that the moments were peaceful and joyful when she was in water.
16 months after the day that changed her life she was swimming on one of the biggest stages of all. She later won two paralympic silver medals in the women’s 400-meter freestyle and 100 meter backstroke.
Truwit still has flashbacks of the gruesome moment, but now when she looks back at it she thinks of the bravery she and her friend showed during that moment. She also adds that just learning to face her fears, and learning that she can have a flashback and be ok she can get through it.
