Woman in coma after trying to save Brian Harman’s son from rip current

Brian Harman talked about the obligatory stuff — his season, his time off, the PGA Tour’s recent changes and more — but the most important topic he broached at the RSM Classic on Tuesday came at the end of his press conference.

Harmon explained he wanted to touch on a personal situation that’s been consuming much of his mind for the better part of the last month and that he wanted to use his platform to thank — and pray — for those who need it right now.

Harman said when he was in China last month, his wife and kids went to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., for vacation. Harmon’s 6-year-old son was bodyboarding in the ocean when he was ripped out to sea by a strong current. Cathy Dowdy, a family friend who was also on the trip — “we call them family friends, but they’re family,” Harmon said — went in the water to help but couldn’t get to him.

Another man, Crane Cantrell, saw they were both in trouble, jumped into the water and retrieved them. He brought them back to shore, but Dowdy was injured while she was in the water. Harmon said she’s been in a coma for nearly six weeks.

“Obviously our world down here was kind of turned on its head,” Harmon said. “You know, 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 theirselves, 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.

“So Cathy’s still hurt real bad … we are thinking about her,” Harmon continued. “The outpouring of support we’ve gotten from Glynn County and St. Simons community is another one of the most touching things I’ve ever experienced. And for all we’ve been through and for how terrible it’s been for Mike and Christina and Nicole, they’re family for us and we’re with ’em till the end and I appreciate everybody that’s helped us out through all this. You know, prayers for Cathy.”

A GoFundMe has been set up for Dowdy. As of Tuesday it has raised over $70,000. You can donate here.