Brian Harman has revealed his family is reeling from the horrific tragedy that left a close friend of the family who tried to save their professional golfer son from near-drowning now in a coma.
Herman, 37, spoke about the tragedy Tuesday at the RSM Classic on St. Simons Island, Georgia, and asked for prayers for family friend Kathy Dowdy, a retired teacher.
He said his wife and children were vacationing with the Dowdy family in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, while he attended the Macau Open in China last month.
Herman said her 6-year-old son was boogie boarding in the ocean on Oct. 13 when a rip current pulled him overboard.
Dowdy jumped into the water to try to save him, but she too was caught in the same strong current and struggled to swim, he said.
Herman said a stranger, Crane Cantrell, who was walking along the beach, saw what was happening, swam toward the boy and rescued him.
“He's doing well, Kathy.” [is] He was seriously injured in the water,” Herman said. “She has been in a coma for six weeks and obviously our world has been turned upside down.”
Lifeguards pulled Dowdy out and began CPR until paramedics arrived and took him to the hospital, the paper said. St. John's Citizen.
The 2023 British Open champion shared his story at the end of his press conference, expressing his gratitude and asking for prayers for the recovery of his selfless friend.
“I'm not sure what I wanted to say other than I wanted to use every platform I had to bring awareness to what Kathy did and what Crane did,” Herman said. said. “How do you thank people like that when they ignored themselves and went into the water and saved my son? I don't know other than to just say what you think.
“I think having the courage to do something like that for someone who is not related to you is the most beautiful thing you can do in this life.”
Dowdy remains in a coma on a ventilator at Select Specialty Hospital in Savannah, according to Monday's update. A GoFundMe page has been created to raise funds for her medical care.
The campaign had raised more than $87,000 as of Thursday night.
with post wire
