Pro surfer and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton is making a heartfelt plea for assistance following a tragic incident involving her three-year-old nephew, Andrew. On October 12th, Hamilton took to Instagram to share the distressing news that Andrew had been hospitalized after a drowning accident.
In her post, accompanied by a photo of Andrew holding a surfboard, Hamilton wrote, “Help! My precious nephew was medevaced to Kapiolani in Oahu this morning after drowning last night. He still has a heartbeat and has fight in him.”
The 34-year-old continued, “We are wrecked, but I know how proper medical support can make or break someone’s chance of survival. 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.”
Bethany, a mother of four who famously survived a 2003 shark attack that resulted in the loss of her left arm, also shared her post on her eldest brother Noah Hamilton’s Instagram. Noah, 42, issued a separate plea on his social media, providing more details about the incident.
He wrote in a Facebook post on October 12th, “Join us in prayer for my brother’s fifth youngest child, Andrew, as he was life-flighted to Oahu in the middle of the night. He’s 3 and a half, going on five. He’s a strong, resilient kid and an amazing swimmer. He was found not breathing in shallow water of a bathtub, but his vitals were enough to get him to Oahu.”
Bethany updated her Instagram post to note that the family had gotten in contact with Dr. Paul Harch, who operates a hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic in New Orleans. Dr. Harch has treated patients who suffer from drowning injuries.
In the comment section of her Instagram post on October 13th, Bethany shared another update: “Please pray for Andrew and all his loved ones. Pray that we can do our best through this hard time. Much love.”
