What started as a friendly night by the lake ended in a tragic nightmare for 26-year-old Christopher Gilbert, an aspiring medical doctor from Louisiana — after his friends allegedly pushed him into a lake, knowing he couldn’t swim.
According to police and court records, the incident took place at Lake D’Arbonne in Farmerville, Louisiana, near a popular lakeside restaurant. Gilbert was with a group of friends when one woman allegedly shoved him into the water as a “joke.”
But what followed was ten agonizing minutes of chaos.
Witnesses said Gilbert fought desperately to stay afloat, gasping and flailing while his friends stood by — laughing, frozen, or simply watching. Only one friend reportedly tried to help, but it was a restaurant customer who finally dove in and pulled him to safety.
By the time emergency responders arrived, Gilbert had been underwater too long. Doctors said his brain was deprived of oxygen, leading to severe brain damage and the near-total failure of his organs.
He was placed on life support, including a ventilator and ECMO machine to help circulate oxygen through his body.
Doctors initially declared him brain dead, but miraculously, he later regained partial consciousness. He could eat soft foods again but couldn’t speak, and his lungs were functioning at only 20% capacity.
“He went from being on the path to becoming a doctor to fighting for his life,” said a relative. “All because of a cruel prank.”
The friends allegedly told police that Gilbert had “fallen in accidentally”, but witnesses and later court testimony revealed that he had been pushed intentionally, even as others knew he couldn’t swim.
Prosecutors charged the primary individual responsible with aggravated battery and serious negligence causing permanent injury. During the trial, the defense claimed it was a “harmless prank gone wrong.”
But the judge disagreed.
“A prank that nearly kills someone isn’t harmless,” the judge said sternly. “It’s reckless cruelty.”
Gilbert’s family continues to care for him, posting updates online as he undergoes therapy in hopes of regaining more function.
His story has become a sobering reminder of how quickly “fun” can turn to tragedy — and how one careless decision can destroy a life full of promise.