Bethany Hamilton Speaks Out After Nephew’s Drowning Tragedy: ‘I’m Overwhelmed’

Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton is reaching out for help following a devastating incident involving her nephew, Andrew, who tragically drowned in Hawaii and is currently undergoing medical treatment.

Despite returning to competitive surfing, Bethany has expressed feeling “maxed out” as her family navigates the best options for Andrew’s recovery after he was medevaced to Oahu. Andrew is the youngest child of her brother, Tim Hamilton, who has six children with his wife, Kyah.

bethany hamilton smiling
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

In a heartfelt Instagram post, 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.” Along with photos, she appealed for assistance from anyone who might have information on treatment options.

To streamline the flow of information, she advised people to contact her brother Noah Hamilton directly if they had urgent suggestions for Andrew’s care. Amidst this challenging time, she has been responding to messages from followers offering prayers and advice, although she admitted to struggling to keep up.

In a separate update, Tim Hamilton shared his family’s emotional journey on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the love and support they have received. He mentioned, “The past 48 hours have been beyond overwhelming,” as they focus on providing Andrew with as much love and care as possible.

This difficult period has also been compounded by Tim’s ongoing health issues. Earlier this year, Kyah launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Tim’s medical expenses due to diabetes and spinal cord degeneration resulting from surf-related injuries. In her message, she outlined the challenges they face, stating that treatment options are limited and require significant travel and costs.

“Your contribution will help relieve some financial stress, allowing him to focus on his healing,” Kyah wrote.

Hot Today