Bethany Hamilton announces death of nephew after pleading for help following drowning accident

Famed surfer Bethany Hamilton has announced the death of her three-year-old nephew after he was fighting for his life following a drowning accident last week.

The 34-year-old shared a heartbreaking update with fans on her Instagram on October 19 (October 20 in Australia), telling them her nephew, named Andrew, had succumbed to his injuries despite all the medical interventions taken.

"The Lord has [received] my sweet nephew Andrew into his beautiful care. While my family and I will miss him dearly, we trust that his joy is full with Jesus," the United States surfer shared, along with several photos of her late nephew, thanking followers for their well wishes.

Watch the video above.

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Andrew's father and Bethany's brother Timothy Hamilton shared on his own Instagram on October 18 (October 19 in Australia) that his son had died "succumbing to injuries sustained a week prior in a drowning accident, after all of the best life-saving interventions had been exhausted."

Andrew is survived by his mother Kyah, siblings Thomas, Joshua, Matthew, Noelle and John, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, said his father.

"It hurts terribly, and we miss Andrew more than words can express. But we do not mourn as those who have no hope," Timothy wrote, "We rejoice in the certain hope of the glory of God, into whose name Andrew was baptised."

A week earlier, Bethany had asked her fans for any help they could provide after her nephew "was medivaced to Kapiolani in Oahu this morning after drowning last night. He still has a heartbeat and has fight in him."

"We are wrecked. But I know how proper medical support can make or break someone's chance of survival and in this case we're asking for help from anyone who has information of what we can do to give my nephew the best chance," she had written one week ago.

Hamilton is known for continuing her professional surfing career despite having her arm bitten off by a shark at age 13.

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