Community Rallies Around Woman Who Risked Her Life to Save Golfer’s Young Son
Professional golfer Brian Harman has made an emotional public appeal for support after a devastating beach rescue incident that left a family friend critically injured while saving his six-year-old son from a potentially fatal ocean emergency.
A moment of extraordinary bravery
During a press conference ahead of the RSM Classic in Georgia, Harman shared the heart-wrenching story of Cathy Dowdy, who remains in a coma after attempting to rescue his son from a dangerous rip current in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
The incident occurred in October while Harman was in China and his family was vacationing. When his young son was bodyboarding and got swept out to sea, another resident, Crane Cantrell, entered the water and initially pulled the child to safety.
“(Dowdy) went in the water after my son,” Harman told reporters. “He’s six. (She) couldn’t get to him … Cathy (got) injured really badly.”
Highlighting the selflessness of the rescuers, Harman emphasized the profound impact of their actions. “I wanted to use whatever platform I have to bring awareness to what Cathy did, what Crane did,” he explained. “They disregarded themselves, went into the water, saved my son, and how do you thank people like that?”
Medical challenges
According to updates from Dowdy’s husband Mike, she was initially treated at Mayo Clinic and has since been transferred to a specialty hospital in Savannah, Georgia. Her husband reported that while her vital organs remain functional, there is significant brain damage.
“She is still unconscious and still having some neurostorms,” Mike Dowdy wrote on the family’s GoFundMe page, which has already raised over $80,000 in community support.
A local lifeguard was crucial in the immediate aftermath, quickly helping Dowdy out of the water and administering CPR before first responders arrived.
Community support
Harman praised the overwhelming support from the Glynn County and St. Simons community, calling it “one of the most touching things I’ve ever experienced.”
About Brian Harman
A three-time PGA Tour champion, Harman achieved his first major title at the Open Championship in 2023. Currently ranked world No. 24, he has previously reached a career-high ranking of No. 8.
A call for prayers and support
The golfer’s primary request remains simple yet profound: prayers for Cathy Dowdy’s recovery and recognition of the extraordinary human capacity for selflessness.
“Bravery and doing something like that for people who aren’t your blood is just the most beautiful thing you can do in this life,” Harman reflected, encapsulating the essence of human compassion.
As the community continues to rally around the Dowdy family, their story serves as a powerful reminder of courage, community, and the unpredictable nature of heroism.