1. Cynthia Burbage (1963 and 1971): Cynthia Burbage, a California surfer, survived two shark attacks. The first attack occurred in 1963 when she was bitten by a great white shark while surfing at Malibu Beach. She lost her left leg and part of her hand in the attack. Despite the traumatic experience, Burbage resumed surfing and was attacked by another great white shark in 1971, this time at Morro Bay. She was able to escape with minor injuries.
2. Bethany Hamilton (2003 and 2019): Bethany Hamilton, a renowned surfer from Hawaii, was just 13 years old when she lost her left arm in a shark attack while surfing at Tunnels Beach in 2003. The shark, a tiger shark, bit off her arm just below the shoulder. Despite the life-threatening injury, Hamilton recovered and eventually returned to surfing. In 2019, she had a second encounter with a tiger shark while surfing in Hawaii, but she escaped uninjured.
3. Rodney Fox (1963 and 1983): Rodney Fox, an Australian surfer, photographer, and conservationist, was attacked by a great white shark in 1963 at Sydney's Bondi Beach. He lost his right arm and part of his chest in the attack. Fox survived and became a shark conservation advocate, working to change perceptions and promote coexistence between sharks and humans. Tragically, in 1983, Fox was attacked again by a great white shark while surfing at Shelly Beach in Sydney, and he ultimately died from his injuries.
4. Steven Spielberg (1946 and 1976): Steven Spielberg, the renowned film director, reportedly had two encounters with sharks. In 1946, at age three, Spielberg was reportedly bitten by a shark in the arm while bathing at a beach with his family. Although he was not seriously injured, the experience is believed to have had a profound impact on him and may have influenced his decision to create the iconic film "Jaws" in 1976. In a twist of irony, Spielberg had a near-miss with a shark while making the film, as a shark reportedly jumped out of the ocean just a few feet from where he was standing on a platform during a shoot.
These examples highlight the rare but real possibility of individuals experiencing multiple shark attacks. While such incidents are relatively uncommon, they serve as a reminder of the potential risks associated with water sports and activities in shark-inhabited environments.