“My Life Was Over”: Shocking Event Turned Into Unbelievable Feat for Para Surfing Icon

Oceans don’t abide by human rules. If there is one thing surfers know how to do, it is adapt. The para-surfing category of the sport has its own popularity for a reason. Viewers are pumped to see para-surfers overcome fate and nature at the same time while conquering their own fears. Para surfing icon Sam Bloom’s story is no different. After a nightmare became her reality, Bloom never would have imagined that her life could be changed for the better.

In January 2013, Sam Bloom was on a vacation with her family. That includes her husband, Cameron, and her three sons, Rueben, Noah, and Oliver. In the blink of an eye, a freak accident changed her entire life.

When everything went down

During their trip in Thailand, Bloom fell through a balcony railing, crashing 6 meters onto the concrete below. Because of this, she suffered fatal injuries that included both her lungs rupturing and her spinal cord breaking. She was also paralyzed for the rest of her life. “My life changed in an instant. I used to be really active before my accident and, then to be paralyzed from the chest down, I was devastated. As far as I was concerned, my life was over,” Bloom said as reported by ABC News Australia.

 Cut to some years down the line, Bloom had developed her own way of getting through this life-changing event. She challenged herself and began competing in para-surfing events. Bloom’s eyes were filled with rays of hope as she wanted to prove to the world that this wasn’t the end for her. She chose her way to freedom.

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She was born near the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia, so she was no stranger to the sport. 5 years after the horrible incident she tried her hands on the surfboard. A letter that was sent to her by Red Bull surfer Julian Wilson’s mother, Nola Wilson, changed her mind once and for all. Once she made up her mind to take on the waves, the rest became history. Even though she was depressed after a life-changing accident, the one letter convinced her to reconsider. She missed playing with her sons, but she only needed one push to fly, and the letter helped her find her wings.

Emerging para-surfing legend

Not once, but 2 time World Para-Surfing champion Sam Bloom is an inspiration to every single para-surfer out there. She has proven herself by going through an incredible ride and defeating death at an early stage. Surfing as an emerging sport also made para-surfing come to the light. People recognized the sport even more. As evidence of that, in the recent para-surfing event, there were around 130 athletes from 24 nations.

She also became the author of Penguin Bloom, which became an international bestseller. Bloom’s story was also adapted into a film with Academy Award Winner Naomi Watts, and Andrew Lincoln. The movie also mentions how the family went through a tough time and was introduced to an injured baby magpie they named Penguin. The bird also played a unique role in Bloom’s life by changing her perspective. The movie helped a lot of para surfers to come out and open up to the world. It opened a new viewpoint for a lot of people which mostly included the ones who are affected by a fate just like Bloom.

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Have you watched or read Penguin Bloom? If not, then give it a try, and let us know your reviews in the comment section.