A California boy hospitalized after suffering a serious electric shock at his backyard birthday party is awake and breathing on his own, his parents confirmed Monday.
Elijah Belden's parents announced Sunday that their son had all breathing tubes removed and was speaking with family members, the Press-Enterprise reports.
"Elijah is congested but breathing well on his own," the family posted to its Facebook page for family and friends.
The Temecula boy who turned 10 years old on Monday was in a coma at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego after he was electrically shocked at his own birthday party in what his dad describes as a “freak accident.”
Belden's family celebrated his birthday a few weeks early with family friends and his baseball team when the fourth grader was shocked near the swimming pool at their Temecula home.
Belden was snapping a picture with a friend when the accident happened. He apparently touched a metal patio cover support that had stringing lights and had somehow become electrified.
A family friend rushed to the boy’s side to perform CPR moments after he was shocked.
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Belden continues to get breathing treatments to strengthen and clear his lungs, his parents said.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
