Surfer Bethany Hamilton shares update following nephew’s drowning incident: ‘Help’

Legendary surfer Bethany Hamilton took to Instagram on Oct. 12 to share heartbreaking news.

In her Instagram post, Hamilton asked for help, sharing her “precious nephew was medivaced to Kapiolani in Oahu after drowning” Oct. 11.

Hamilton continued, revealing that Andrew “still has a heartbeat and has fight in him.”

“We are wrecked,” Hamilton added. “But I know how proper medical support can make or break someone’s chance of survival and in this case we’re asking for help from anyone who has information (on) what we can do to give my nephew the best chance.”

In an update shared Oct. 13, Hamilton revealed that her family was seeking the help of Dr. Paul Harch. According to Hamilton, Dr. Harch is a “world-renowned HBOT expert on adolescent drowning.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, HBOT is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which “involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment.”

“We got ahold of Dr. Paul Harch (to) help save my nephew and educate doctors in Hawai’i,” she explained.

“Please pray for Andrew and all his loved ones. Pray that we can do our best through this hard time. Much love,” Hamilton continued.

The surfer concluded her updates by sharing she won’t go into detail regarding Andrew’s accident.

“I was not planning on posting about Andrew’s incident. I didn’t want to go to (the) public in the first place, but I knew that it could potentially help him by getting more support and receiving more knowledge/help around what he’s going through and it certainly has been a blessing. Thank you,” Hamilton explained.

“I don’t plan on posting a lot. And will be off this space for the most part,” she wrote. “Thank you for the love, prayers, knowledge, and support.”

According to the Children’s Safety Network , about 900 children and adolescents ages 0–19 die from drowning each year in the U.S., which is an average of about three deaths per day.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 to 4.

“Drowning can happen to anyone, any time there is access to water,” the CDC says.