By ALISHA WYMAN

The Union Democrat

A 4-year-old Sonora boy who nearly drowned at New Melones Reservoir last weekend remains in a coma at an Oakland hospital.

Michael Caropreso was playing at the water's edge on an island near the reservoir's Tuttletown Recreation Area when he disappeared at about 1 p.m. Saturday, said Sonora resident Jodee Munroe, who is close friends with the family.

His father was able to dive into the water and rescue him once the group realized he was missing. Munroe's sister-in-law, Sugar Pine resident Rhonda Coville, did CPR on the boy until rescue workers arrived.

Caropreso was flown to Oakland Children's Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

The group was camping Friday night at Tuttletown with a large group of friends, Munroe said. They went out to one of the islands Saturday and were anchoring their boats, unloading chairs and ice chests and putting up shade canopies.

Of the roughly 30 people present, about half were children, Munroe said. The rule was they were to all be wearing life jackets.

Michael was playing near his dad's boat, and must have taken his life jacket off when adults weren't looking, Munroe said.

Munroe's son approached her and asked her where Michael was. His dad realized he was missing and a group began looking for the child on the island.

"When it finally hit us that he wasn't on shore, it was very scary," she said. "I don't even remember what was going on in my head."

Several people began looking in the water, while Monroe called 911.

Michael's dad, whose name is also Michael Caropreso, dove twice and was able to pull the child out of the water.

She estimates that, from the time he was last seen to when he was found, about 10 minutes had passed.

Coville, who is a certified nursing assistant, was just arriving on a boat, when she saw people waving frantically, she said. She took over CPR and had them move him into a boat.

Once on shore, she handed him off to emergency responders, who were able to get a heartbeat in the ambulance.

Michael's family has remained at the hospital by his side, while his sister Emily, 7, stays with Monroe, she said. Kim Caropreso is a stay-at-home mom, while his dad is a deliverer for the Trading Post.

He is improving, though he has heart, lung, kidney and brain damage, Coville said.

"It's been a roller coaster ride, I guess, this last weekend," she said.

In the meantime, friends of his family are planning a fundraiser for his family, who don't have health insurance.

Coville is organizing a benefit car wash starting at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at McCoy Tire Co. at 372 Stockton Road.

There is also a fund in Michael's name at Wells Fargo Bank, at P.O. Box 3852, in Sonora.

Contact Alisha Wyman at awyman@uniondemocrat.com or 588-4527.

A car wash to benefit Michael Caropreso and his family will be start at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at McCoy Tire Co. at 372 Stockton Road. There is also a fund in Michael's name at Wells Fargo Bank, at P.O. Box 3852, in Sonora.

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