The family of a 26-year-old Louisiana man, Christopher Gilbert, is seeking justice after he suffered brain damage when a friend allegedly pushed him into a lake despite knowing he couldn’t swim.

The incident occurred on April 14 at a lakefront restaurant in Farmerville. Gilbert’s mother, Yolanda George, received a frantic call from a friend reporting that Gilbert had fallen into the lake and had been underwater for about 20 minutes.

Gilbert, an aspiring medical doctor, was rescued and hospitalized, initially deemed brain-dead. However, he later regained consciousness.

Investigations revealed that a female friend had pushed Gilbert into the water, admitting to it later.

While the incident was labeled as “horseplay” by some, Gilbert’s family believes it was a criminal act, The Guardian reported.

They are urging authorities to arrest the person responsible and hold the restaurant owner accountable for negligence.

A petition supporting the family’s demands has garnered over 2,600 signatures.

As of Friday, Gilbert had regained consciousness and was eating on his own, though he remained hospitalized.

Written by B.C. Begley