EDMONDS, Washington (29 Apr 2009) — Brian Berentson, though still in a coma after a scuba diving incident at Edmonds Underwater Park on April 17, is making progress. He has been a patient in the Neurology ICU in Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill Seattle, but will soon be moved to Kindred Hospital at Northridge. The exact circumstances of the diver's brush with tragedy are unknown at this time. On the return leg of their second dive, he and dive partner Fritz Rivera, a coworker at Microsoft, became separated. Minutes later Fritz Rivera found his partner floating face down, unconscious and not breathing. Luckily Rivera is a certified diving trainer and rescuer. He was able to swiftly drag the victim to shore and apply CPR. The paramedics arrived soon afterward and succeeded in restarting the stricken diver's heart. Since the accident, Brian Berentson, 44, has made much progress. He is dealing with a collapsed lung, but his brain swelling has decreased enough that no drastic procedures were needed. However, he remains in critical condition. "I'm happy to report that as of this afternoon (Monday) Brian is breathing without a ventilator," Fritz Rivera said. "Tests show Brian's body is recovering. His internal organs are sound, his lungs are clearing of the pneumonia, the tremors have not appeared in some time now, and the fever seems to be gone." Brian Berentson is employed as a Microsoft program manager for the Xbox Accessories Team. He has worked there 12 years. He and Marlaine Berentson, an employee of Chanterelle Restaurant in Edmonds, have been married 18 years. They have four children: Liberty, 31; Tanya, 24; Brian Jr., 19, and Brooke, 17. They also have two grandchildren aged 11 and 2. The couple lives in the Edmonds area and both are well known in the community. Brian Berentson has been a certified open-water diver for several years. The family says hospital visitors are welcome. They believe the sound of familiar voices may help awaken Brian from his coma. | 
