Police: Boy with octopus stuck in throat released from hospital

The 2-year-old boy who survived having an octopus stuck in his throat has recovered well enough to be released from the hospital, Wichita police said Friday.

The toddler was brought to the hospital by his mother on Tuesday night struggling to breathe, according to a police report. The 21-year-old woman had returned home in the 4900 block of East Waterman to see her 36-year-old boyfriend performing CPR on her son, police have said. The child was not breathing at the time.

Doctors performed an examination at the hospital and found an octopus stuck in the toddler’s throat. They removed the dead animal, which had a head about 2 inches in diameter.

They also noted bruising on the boy’s face, officials have said. Police were notified.

The boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of child abuse early Wednesday morning after extensive questioning by police. Evidence in the case was presented Friday morning to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, Wichita police Lt. James Espinoza said.

“The D.A. did accept the case,” Espinoza said.

That means the incident will be considered for one or more potential felony charge.

The boy showed significant signs of improvement on Wednesday and is now “doing great,” Espinoza said Friday.

Capt. Jeff Weible said the child has been released from the hospital.

Doctors had been concerned about long-term health problems caused by oxygen deprivation to the brain, Espinoza said earlier this week.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Police: Boy with octopus stuck in throat released from hospital."