A Calgary boy who nearly drowned while on vacation in British Columbia is now back home after spending weeks in intensive care. Nine-year-old Paul-Angelo Warren was swimming with his family in the Shuswap River in W.J. Tuey Regional Park near Enderby when he was swept under the surface on Aug. 3. The boy — who goes by Angie — was trapped underwater by driftwood for between five to 10 minutes, RCMP say. “I got pulled in the water and I tried getting up but I couldn’t, and I accidentally breathed in some water and then I passed out,” Angie told CTV News from his family’s home in southwest Calgary. He added the next thing he remembers is hearing his parents and brother telling him to wake up in the hospital. Angie spent four weeks at B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, half of which he spent in a medically induced coma. His family says he is expected to make a full recovery. “This is the miracle boy in our lives,” said Angie’s mother, Maria Warren, who never left the hospital. His father and older brother stayed in Vancouver the whole time as well. The four of them returned to Calgary this week. Maria said doctors gave positive reports after doing an MRI and other medical tests. Maria says her son was only waist-deep in the river when she saw him get pulled under by the current. She says several people gathered to find him in the murky water as she shouted for help. The family is grateful for that group of strangers at the beach, which included a doctor and two nurses who had a portable defibrillator. They’re also thankful for the first responders, medical team, family, friends and donors who supported them. “I’m so thankful to all of you,” Maria said. The family hopes to raise awareness about water safety. Angie’s parents say he is a good swimmer but says they should have been more cautious as unfamiliar areas — especially rivers — can be dangerous. The Warrens were devastated to hear of other drowning deaths in the area after Angie was pulled from the water. “I feel sorry for their families because they didn’t come back home,” Matthew Warren, Angie’s dad, told CTV News. Angie will continue speech, movement and psychological therapies in Calgary but he’s already looking forward to returning to his regular life, including school. “I like math,” Angie said. He says he can’t wait to get back to sports again as well. “I want to do track and field” he said. His family wants him to rest at home for a bit first though, so he has been eating Jollibee chicken, enjoying family time and cuddles with his dog, Lucky. Angie’s recovery costs are being supported with help of a GoFundMe.
