Golfer Brian Harman reveals 6-year-old son nearly drowned in scary incident that left friend in coma
Professional golfer Brian Harman opened up this week about a devastating incident that occurred last month where his 6-year-old son, Walter, nearly drowned, while leaving a friend in a coma.
Harman said the tragic day came during a family vacation where his wife, Kelly Van Slyke, and their three children were in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The couple are also parents to 8-year-old daughter Cooper and Jack, 2.
Harman himself was not in Florida for the trip, as he was competing on an Asian Tour event in China.
Walter was bodyboarding on October 13 when he was pulled into a strong rip current. Family friend Cathy Dowdy, from Brunswick, Georgia attempted to save Walter by entering the ocean but she was unable to reach him as she struggled against the strong current.
Another man named Crane Cantrell saw the nightmare incident unfold and went in to help, managing to save the Harmans’ middle child.
However, Dowdy was left seriously injured. A lifeguard pulled Dowdy out of the water and administered CPR until first-responders arrived, per the St. Johns Citizen. But she has been left in a coma ever since.
Golfer Brian Harman detailed the tragic incident from last month that nearly drowned his son
Harman is pictured with son Walter (left) and daughter Cooper (right) at the 2024 Masters
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Cathy Dowdy (right) following the incident
‘Obviously our world down here was kind of turned on its head,’ Harmon said during a press conference at the RSM Classic in Georgia on Wednesday.
‘I don’t really know what I wanted to kind of say other than 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? I don’t know other than to just say what you think.
‘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.’
Dowdy has since been transferred to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia and has been in a coma for six weeks.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with Dowdy’s medical expenses. It has raised over $80,000 as of Wednesday night.
‘Cathy’s still hurt real bad,’ Harman continued. ‘She’s up in Savannah and we’re thinking about her.’
Harman, who won the Open Championship last year, and wife Kelly married in December 2014.
The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Cooper Marie, back in 2016.
They added to their brood with son, Walter, in 2019 and their third child, Jack in September 2022.
