Darien swimmer who lost part of her leg in shark attack clinches Paralympic Games spot

STAMFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Ali Truwit has always loved to swim and to be in the water, but she could have never imagined how swimming would have saved her life during a shark attack in Turks and Caicos.

The Darien swimmer jumped back in, vying for a spot on Team USA for the Paralympics in Paris. Truwit clinched her spot on the team this past weekend.

She was in Turks and Caicos with her friend Sophie after graduating from Yale University last year when the unthinkable happened.

“While we were snorkeling, seemingly out of nowhere, a shark came and started attacking us, ramming us and bumping us very hard,” Truwit said. “Pretty quickly, it had my leg in its mouth. Next thing I knew, it had bitten my foot and part of my leg off. I kept thinking stay conscious, get back to the boat.”

Knowing the shark was nearby, she fought back and swam 75 yards in open water.

“Knowing how to swim, and swim well, completely saved our lives,” Truwit said.

Sophie applied a tourniquet, helping save her friend’s life. Truwit was airlifted to a hospital in Miami, where she underwent two life-saving surgeries. She was then taken to a hospital in New York, where her leg, below the knee, was amputated.

She knows no matter the challenge, you can find the strength within yourself to achieve your goals.

“The chance to represent my country feels really special,” Truwit told News 8 in June. “I would say, don’t count yourself out. Have faith in the fact that you can turn trauma and tragedy into hope.”

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