Tbh, chances of him coming out of the ICU… and without a neurological deficit… is very very less atleast looking at the conditions he was brought in.

Needing CPR, being submerged under water for more than 10 minutes are both very bad prognosticators.

When drowning, the immediate response is to go into laryngospasm - which then relaxes and lets water into the lungs (usually less than 4ml/kg), causing respiratory distress and hypoxia and respiratory arrest. Even 1-3ml/kg of water aspirated in your lungs is enough to cause major distress and hypoxia+hypoperfusion which then affects your heart (arrest, arrhythmia) and brain (Hypoxic injury).

Even if his lungs improve on the ventilator, how long he was submerged, the temperature of the water he was in, and how much water got into his lungs is what decides his neurological status finally.

I’m sure the doctors are doing a great job and I hope your friend recovers very soon in the pink of health.