Woody Harrelson Saves Darius Rucker from Drowning in Hawaii

HONOLULU, Hawaii — Country music star Darius Rucker revealed in his 2024 memoir that actor Woody Harrelson once saved his life during a near-drowning incident in Hawaii in the late 1990s. The harrowing event occurred while the two friends were on a break during Rucker’s tour.

Rucker, 58, recounted the experience in vivid detail, describing how he became caught in a powerful ocean current. “I feel as if some horrific giant squid has lashed itself around my body, circling and tightening its tentacles around my legs, dragging me under the water,” Rucker wrote. He struggled for 10 to 15 minutes before hearing Harrelson’s voice.

The two men treaded water for 30 minutes until their friend Kirk arrived to help pull Rucker to safety. “Woody and Kirk could pull me out of the current and back to the beach,” Rucker recalled, expressing gratitude for Harrelson’s quick thinking and bravery.

The story resurfaced this week after Rucker shared a humorous social media post about another encounter with Harrelson. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, Rucker posted screengrabs of a fan’s story about asking Harrelson, 63, to take a photo of them with Rucker at a bar. The fans initially didn’t recognize the three-time Academy Award-nominated actor.

“We asked Woody Harrelson to take a photo OF us,” the fan’s text read. “His friend.” Harrelson, known for his roles in “True Detective” and “White House Plumbers,” left a selfie on their phone as a memento. Rucker captioned the post, “Still laughing 😂 @woodyharrelson.”

Country music stars and fans alike found the interaction hilarious. Singer Hannah Ellis commented, “I saw this on TikTok and cackled 😂,” while others shared similar stories of celebrity encounters gone unnoticed.

Rucker and Harrelson have been close friends for decades, with their bond strengthened by the life-saving incident in Hawaii. Rucker’s memoir, released in 2024, provides a deeper look into their friendship and the unforgettable moment that brought them even closer.