Minnesota boy involved in boating accident heads home after making miraculous recovery

A five-year-old is heading home from Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, Saint Marys Campus, after making a miraculous recovery from a boating accident.

Vincent Koenig from Red Wing, was rescued from the Mississippi River after his family’s boat was struck by a barge. While Vincent was wearing a life jacket, he was submerged underwater between 10 and 12 minutes. His dad spotted his orange shoes and pulled him ashore.

People on-site performed CPR for 30 to 45 minutes, according to his CaringBridge site. Miraculously, Vincent suffered no long-term brain damage.

Now he is walking and talking again. And after seven long weeks in the hospital, he was discharged.

Vincent was all smiles Friday afternoon when his care team surprised him with a special send-off. Along with hospital staff, they lined the halls to cheer Vincent on with noisemakers and bubbles, and wish him well.

Vincent and his family got a limo ride home to Red Wing where the community arranged a huge welcome home event at the high school.