Tragedy nearly struck PGA Tour golfer Brian Harman’s family last month during a beach vacation in Florida. Harman’s 6-year-old son was boogie-boarding at Ponte Vedra Beach when a dangerous rip current suddenly dragged him out to sea. But thanks to the quick actions and incredible bravery of a family friend, Cathy Dowdy, the young boy’s life was saved – though at great personal cost to his rescuer.
According to Harman, who addressed the harrowing incident during a press conference on Tuesday, Dowdy immediately swam out into the treacherous surf in an attempt to reach his son. However, the powerful current proved too much and she was unable to get to the boy. Thankfully, another beachgoer, Crane Cantrell, was able to fight through the rip and pull the child safely back to shore.
Tragically, while she managed to save Harman’s son from drowning, Dowdy herself did not emerge unscathed. The 47-year-old from Brunswick, Georgia has been hospitalized in a coma for the past six weeks as a result of her valiant efforts. She was recently transferred to a hospital in Savannah to continue her recovery.
“Cathy’s still hurt real bad,” an emotional Harman told reporters. “She’s up in Savannah and we’re thinking about her. The outpouring of support we’ve gotten from Glynn County and Saint Simons community is another one of the most touching things I’ve ever experienced.”
– Brian Harman, PGA Tour golfer
A Remarkable Act of Heroism and Sacrifice
Dowdy’s courageous actions and willingness to put her own life on the line to save a child have resonated deeply with people across the country. Her selflessness in the face of grave danger represents the very best of the human spirit.
“I think that 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.”
– Brian Harman
Harman, who won the 2023 Open Championship, was competing in a tournament in China when he received word of the near-tragedy and Dowdy’s condition. He immediately took to social media and the press to express his profound gratitude and ask for prayers for her recovery.
Rip Currents: A Hidden Danger
This terrifying incident also highlights the often underestimated dangers posed by rip currents, which are powerful, channeled currents of water that flow away from the shore. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, rip currents account for over 80% of lifeguard rescues at surf beaches.
Experts advise that if caught in a rip current, swimmers should not attempt to fight the flow but rather swim parallel to the shore until free of the current. However, in the heat of the moment and driven by adrenaline, would-be rescuers often make the valiant but perilous choice to swim directly into the current after a struggling victim.
An Outpouring of Support
As word spread of Dowdy’s heroic act and the heavy price she paid, an outpouring of support, well-wishes and prayers has come from across the golfing world and beyond. The tight-knit community of Saint Simons, where Harman resides, has rallied around Dowdy and her family.
“I wanted to use whatever platform I have to bring awareness to what Cathy did, what Crane did. They disregarded themselves, went into the water, saved my son, and how do you thank people like that?”
– Brian Harman
For Harman, still processing the emotions of nearly losing his son and overwhelmed with gratitude for Dowdy’s actions, the path forward is clear. He intends to use his voice and platform as a PGA Tour winner to honor the woman who saved his son and to rally support for her recovery.
As Cathy Dowdy continues her fight, her act of extraordinary courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten. Her story is a poignant reminder of the power of selflessness, the fragility of life, and the incredible capacity for heroism that resides within ordinary individuals. In risking everything for a child she barely knew, she embodied the very best of humanity. And though the road ahead is uncertain, she has the love, prayers and support of a grateful family and a nation that stands in awe of her bravery.
