Infant Recuperating After Near Drowning

A Simi Valley infant who nearly drowned in the family spa last weekend is expected to spend his first birthday today in a Northridge hospital recuperating from his injuries and surrounded by family members.

Mitchell Hancock remained in Northridge Hospital Medical Center on Monday, heavily sedated and assisted in breathing by a tube, said his mother, Adrienne Hancock, 21.

The infant fell into the unattended spa at his parents’ house in the 200 block of Stoneman Street about 4 p.m. Saturday after crawling out an unlocked screen door, authorities said.

The child was believed to have been in the spa for several minutes before his father, David, 28, found him face down in the water and pulled him out. Paramedics took the boy to Simi Valley Hospital.

On Monday, the Hancocks were at their son’s side at the hospital in Northridge, as they have been since he was transferred from Simi Valley Hospital on Saturday night.

“He’s not on life support. He’s intubated to help him breathe. They had him at 100% oxygen, and they brought him down to 45% oxygen,” the mother said. “He could open his eyes and look at us.”

Doctors are optimistic that Mitchell will recuperate, but they have not said when he is likely to return home. Mitchell will remain on a breathing apparatus through tonight, Adrienne Hancock said.

Family members have been providing support to Mitchell’s parents. Now all Adrienne and David Hancock want to do is get their child back home and celebrate his first year of life.

“We had a family party planned for Friday, but what we do is going to depend on how he is when he gets home,” his mother said.