Quadruple amputee set to become youngest ever to compete in top surf competition: “It’s an opportunity nobody has seen before!”

Anti-depressive!

As you know, well,  your BeachGrit bills itself as “anti-depressive” and generally upholds that mantle though… sometimes, every now again, it slips into the ruthlessly unnecessary and/or straight evil banality. Posts with little to zero moral value. Pieces that are as shoddily constructed as they are considered.

Unfortunate.

This morning (or evening/mid-day depending on your reading location), however, we have a story that is certain to inspire even the most frivolously rude. The tale of ten-year-old Jade Edward, from Scotland, who is set to become one of the youngest ever to compete in a top-level professional surfing competition and as a quadruple amputee.

Edward lost both her arms and legs when she was two years of age after contracting Meningococcal Septicaemia and having to undergo the emergency procedure. “The only thing the doctors could do to save Jade was to amputate her arms and legs, her father, Fraser Edward, told Aberdeen Live. “It’s the only reason she’s still alive. In Jade’s eyes, she’s not disabled.”

The young girl was introduced to surfing on a family beach vacation last summer and fell in love with our favorite pastime, impressing those around with her natural ability, and was invited to the English Para Surf Competition in Bristol. After impressing, again, she made the Scottish Para Surf Team and will now head to California for the upcoming International Surfing Association World Para Surfing Championships.

“Being in the water gives her so much freedom,” her father continued. “She’s encountered horrendous weather conditions but never loses confidence. It’s a match made in heaven. She’s lived with her disability all her life, but surfing has really welcomed her.”

Edward added, “There’s not many 10-year-olds who get the chance to do this. My mum said it will be really good to be with other people with different abilities rather than always being the one who is different. I can’t wait.”

The World Para Surfing Championships will take place in Pismo Beach this Dec. 4 – 11 as ISA president Fernando Aguerre seeks to have surfing included in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

“The ISA is super committed to the long-term growth and promotion of Para surfing worldwide,” Aguerre declared. “The World Para Surfing Championship is a key element of that mission. The global community of Para surfers know how powerful surfing can be in healing the mind, body and spirit. Through continuing to elevate this event, our hope is to further spread the joy and love that Para surfing brings to our community and the world. That joy is visible on the face of every athlete that competes at our event.”

Anti-depressive.