Eric Dane's Daughter Saved Him From Near-Drowning Incident, Memoir Reveals
The late actor detailed a terrifying moment in Antigua where his youngest daughter, Georgia, rescued him after he realized he could no longer swim due to his ALS diagnosis.
Eric Dane's posthumous memoir, "My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments," recounts a harrowing incident where his daughter Georgia saved him from drowning. The actor, who died in February at age 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), detailed the event in passages published by People.
While on vacation in Antigua following his ALS diagnosis in 2024, Dane experienced a moment of panic when he entered the ocean and realized he lacked the strength to swim back to the boat. His youngest daughter, Georgia, then 14, and her friend were instrumental in pulling him to safety.
"Georgia hands me my phone. 'I can't swim, Rebecca,' I say. 'I can't swim,'" Dane wrote in the memoir, referring to his estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart. Upon learning of the near-fatal incident, Gayheart became emotional. "She explodes into tears and I weep with her. We cry together," Dane recalled. "Finally, the tears slow, become reduced to gasps, and when we're both cried out, Rebecca says, 'I was afraid of this day. I knew it would come. I've been dreading it.'"
Dane had previously spoken about the incident on "Good Morning America" in June 2025, reflecting on the realization of his altered physical capabilities. "When I jumped into the ocean that day and realized I couldn't swim and generate enough power to get myself back to the boat, I thought, 'Oh God.' And I realized in that moment I'm not safe in the water anymore," he stated.
Dane and Gayheart, who married in 2004, remained close despite their divorce filing in 2018, especially as Dane navigated his illness. They are parents to two daughters, Billie Beatrice Dane, 16, and Georgia. The actor's memoir is set for release on November 3, less than nine months after his passing.
In the statement released after his death, a spokesperson noted Dane's dedication to advocating for ALS awareness and research. "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world," the statement read. "Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight."