Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton has reached out for help and prayers after her young nephew, Andrew, tragically drowned but survived. The 34-year-old athlete shared the emotional news in an Instagram post on Saturday, October 12, explaining that Andrew drowned on the evening of October 11.
In her heartfelt post, Hamilton revealed that Andrew was medevaced to a hospital in Oahu, Hawaii, on the morning of October 12, likely referring to Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu. At the time of her post, Hamilton shared that Andrew “still has a heartbeat and has fight in him.”
Known for her incredible resilience after losing her arm in a shark attack while surfing at the age of 13, Hamilton asked for help in finding medical experts who could give her nephew the best chance at survival. “We are wrecked,” she wrote. “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 to her original post, Hamilton shared that her call for assistance had connected her with Dr. Paul Harch, a specialist in hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Dr. Harch, based in Louisiana, has successfully treated patients, including children who have drowned, using HBOT. According to Mayo Clinic, HBOT is a well-established treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment and is commonly used for conditions such as decompression sickness.
Hamilton, a mother of four, expressed her gratitude for the support she has received and asked anyone with information about other potential treatments to contact her brother, Noah. She concluded her post by writing, “Please pray. THANK YOU!” while not specifying whether Noah is Andrew’s father.
In another update, Hamilton shared that she and her family are feeling “hopeful” after being able to communicate with Dr. Harch and other medical professionals. “Update: We are hopeful 😭🙏🏽✨,” she wrote in the comments. “Thank you for your prayers and support. We are in contact with Dr. Harch and many helpful individuals.”
“We trust that God has Andrew in his hands,” she added, asking for continued prayers and support during this difficult time.