Less than a month ago, doctors had grimly described Gilbert as practically "brain dead" and had placed him on life support machines. Yet, in a remarkable turnaround, the 26-year-old is now conversing with his family and has resumed eating, marking significant progress in his recovery journey, as revealed by family attorney Claudia Payne.

Although Gilbert has been taken off life support, he continues to grapple with physical recuperation and memory loss issues, indicating the long road ahead in his rehabilitation process.

The incident unfolded on April 14 at a Farmerville restaurant, where Gilbert was pushed off a dock by a friend, resulting in him spending approximately ten minutes submerged underwater. Shockingly, the group of friends present failed to initiate a rescue, leaving Gilbert's life hanging in the balance.

However, fate intervened in the form of Dawson Foust, a courageous restaurant patron unrelated to the group, who plunged into the water and heroically rescued Gilbert from the depths of the lake.

In the wake of this traumatic event, Gilbert's family is preparing to pursue legal action against the restaurant, identified as Rhett's Tails and Shells, alleging negligence in safeguarding patrons, particularly in the context of serving alcohol.

Despite the immense challenges he faces, Gilbert's resilience shines through, underscoring his determination to overcome adversity. Prior to the incident, Gilbert harbored aspirations of attending medical school, a dream that remains within reach as he continues his journey of recovery and renewal.