teen surfer describes shark attack

[low_delta]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/11/02/shark.attack.ap/index.html

It says some people think she will surf again.


"This is a woman who is a highly trained athlete, and because of that she's able to handle a huge blood loss really well," Rovinsky said.

What? She's thirteen.

Comments

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

what what?
do you think she's not a woman
or that it's because of her age, not athletisism,
which may have saved her?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I just thought it was a strange statement. Not that I'm questioning it, mind you. It's just odd to hear a thirteen year old described as a woman. And to say that a thirteen year old is a highly trained athelete, in the sense that her body is developed enough to handle trauma like that, better than the average person.

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

yeah, i found the latter half a bit strange
but i've been a woman since i was eleven ;)
if they want ta be all strict about it and stuff~

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

Hm. I think surfing is an addiction. Clearly it fits the criteria for such. I think that it would be way too early to decide... I mean, she isn't out of the hospital yet, is she?

I suspect she'll have to surf again, and become a champion. It's the only possible ending to the story.

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

well, that would make a better screenplay, anyway!

[banana.livejournal.com]

Until Victorian campaigns, the age of consent here was 13.
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/V/victorians/1_virgins.html (mild work safety alert)

Does that count as a definition of womanhood? I expect not, but I was reading about it last night.

[emschin.livejournal.com]

So when is a female a "woman"? True she can bear children at 13 (or younger). But I understand it is much harder on a 13 year old body than someone older. Is it when they are emotionally ready to take adult responsibilities? I understand (from NOVA) that the judgement area of the brain doesn't fully mature until 20 or so.

As for this girl/woman athletic training certainl gave her a stronger body than a couch potato. And she seems to be handling the emotional trauma pretty well.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

It's a huge grey area, so the generally referred-to age of adulthood is eighteen. That's a five year difference.