By CLAYTON PARK

Ray Breda, a 70-year-old Briar resident who suffered a massive head injury while servicing a swimming pool filter at the Lake City Elks Lodge on Feb. 8, remains hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center, as of the Jet City Maven's presstime late last month.

"Ray is still in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at Harborview," according to the recorded greeting on the Bredas' home phone answering machine on Feb. 27. Breda's wife Joan has been recording updates every couple of days on her husband's condition. In her latest message, Joan acknowledged the many people who have been calling to inquire about her husband. "Thank you for your concern," her message stated.

The Bredas, who lease the lodge's swimming pool from the Lake City Elks, are operators of family water sports club called Kidswim, which is held seven days a week throughout the year. The membership swim club, established in 1983, is not affiliated with the Lake City Elks Lodge, where it has operated the past six years.

Joan, in an interview with the Jet City Maven, explained that her husband got injured when the stainless steel lid of one of the pool's filters unexpectedly burst open under pressure and hit him on the head, knocking him unconscious. Fortunately, two of the swimmers in the pool at the time were off-duty firemen who promptly administered CPR while waiting for an emergency medical team to show up.

The filter is about the size of a kitchen stove, explained Joan, who added that the filter was brought in by her and her husband and does not belong to the Lake City Elks.

The accident was incorrectly reported by KIRO TV on its 11 p.m. news program on Feb. 8 as a "boiler explosion at the Elks Lodge in Bothell," even though there is no Elks Lodge in Bothell. The Lake City Elks Lodge, however, is located near the corner of NE 145th and BOTHELL WAY, which may explain KIRO's confusion.

Terri Jones, a spokeswoman for the Northshore Fire Department, which responded to the 911 emergency call, said the "boiler explosion" was how the accident "was originally reported by whoever called it in, but once we got there, it wasn't the case." Joan said the 911 call was placed by a bystander, who did not know what to call the pool filter.

Joan said her husband is gradually getting better, although it isn't yet known how long he'll need to remain hospitalized. "He seems to recognize us. He squeezes my hand when I'm there," she said, adding that he has even uttered a few words. "He's doing better, but it's going to be a slow process to get well."

She added, "I'll tell you something, Harborview is absolutely fantastic."