FARMERVILLE, LA – A hopeful medical student was left in a critical condition after being pushed into a Louisiana lake by his friends despite his inability to swim. The group reportedly watched the incident without intervening, according to sources.
The alarming event was captured on video, revealing the group gazing into Lake D’Arbonne shortly after pushing Christopher Gilbert off the dock on April 14. A woman is seen hesitantly entering the water, only to abandon the rescue attempt.
It was not until a good Samaritan from a nearby restaurant intervened, pulling Gilbert back to shore, that help arrived. By this point, nearly 10 minutes had passed since Gilbert was pushed into the lake.
The 26-year-old was in a critical state by the time he reached the hospital. His mother, Yolanda George, reported that he was brain dead and his organs were beginning to fail. Gilbert was kept on a ventilator and an ECMO machine, a device similar to a lung dialysis machine, for 72 hours.
George expressed her devastation at the incident, sharing that her son, who had earned his master’s degree in biological science last year, was preparing for medical school.
The friends initially tried to downplay the incident, describing it as a playful accident. However, one woman eventually confessed to pushing Gilbert into the lake. None of the friends admitted to knowing about Gilbert’s inability to swim, a claim that his family finds hard to believe.
Despite the harrowing ordeal, Gilbert has shown signs of improvement. He is now responsive, although he is unable to speak and continues to rely on life support. His lung capacity is reported to be at 20%.
The family is demanding justice for Gilbert, arguing that the friends who pushed him into the lake demonstrated criminal intent.