POST FALLS - A 23-year-old Coeur d'Alene man who was choked and held by friends to be restrained at a party on New Year's has come out of a coma.

David Carson recognizes family members and is in the early stages of communicating, said Post Falls Police Lt. Greg McLean.

"From the information we received from medical personnel, it's a surprise that he came out of a coma," McLean said. "It's a blessing."

Carson has been transferred from the Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital in Post Falls to the St. Luke's rehabilitation facility in Spokane for eight weeks of speech and physical therapy.

"He does talk - not always plain - but enough to where you can understand what he's saying," said Barbara Swank, Carson's grandmother.

Swank said he still has vision problems, but is starting to eat.

"We're all just thrilled that he's making progress, but we just don't know how far it will go," she said.

It's a stark difference from when Carson was at Kootenai Medical Center after the incident.

"The immediate family was told to get prepared," Swank said.

Police said the choking incident appears to be an accident, not intentional, and no charges have been filed. The case, however, will be turned over to the Kootenai County prosecutor's office.

"We'll let them review it to make sure we're not missing anything and leave it in their hands," McLean said.

Carson does not remember what happened at the party in Post Falls, McLean said.

Police said Carson's blood-alcohol content was more than 0.2 - more than twice the state's limit to drive - and he had gotten physical at the party, including with his wife, and had to be restrained with a bear hug earlier. Carson was reportedly distraught over the death of he and his wife's child.

Those at the party told police he was agitated and spoke of drinking himself to death.

McLean said detectives considered why the two friends who were restraining Carson couldn't have controlled him in another way until police arrived, but it appears they were only doing what they could at the time to restrain him. One had ahold of Carson's neck, while another tried to restrain his legs.

The investigation indicates that friends released him immediately after he was unconscious, police said. He was brought into the house and 911 was called immediately.

Swank said friends and family have written the prosecutor letters on whether they believe charges should be filed.

"It's all our own opinion, but the main thing we're focusing on is David," Swank said.