No, Musk did not save child in coma using Neuralink
Neuralink performed its first brain implant in 2024, but it does not accept minor patients. Published April 15, 2025 "); } else if(is_tablet()){ slot_number++; document.write(""); } Claim: In April 2025, Elon Musk supervised a medical team that used Neuralink – a company Musk founded that develops brain-computer interfaces – to wake up 8-year-old Tristan Killip from a coma. Rating: In April 2025, a claim that tech billionaire Elon Musk saved a child in a coma using Neuralink — Musk's company that develops brain-computer interfaces — made its rounds on the internet. The spread on X (archived) as well as Facebook (archived). Snopes readers also emailed us and searched our site to see whether the rumor was true. The claim originated from a Facebook post (archived) that users have shared more than 2,500 times as of this writing. The post described how a Neuralink device reportedly stimulated the child's brain's neural pathways and "key areas linked to consciousness," waking the child from his coma seven days after implantation. The full text of the story is as follows: For over a year, eight-year-old Tristan Killip lay motionless in a hospital bed, his small body held in a coma since a tragic drowning accident. His parents had tried everything including specialists, treatments, and prayer but hope was fading. That's when Elon Musk, upon hearing the boy's story through a viral post, stepped in. With access to advanced neural interface technology from his company Neuralink, Elon offered a radical solution. A prototype device that could reconnect and stimulate the brain's neural pathways, potentially waking Tristan from his year long sleep. The procedure was delicate and unprecedented. Elon personally supervised the team, working with the world's top neuroscientists and engineers. The Neuralink implant was surgically placed, mapping Tristan's brain activity and gently stimulating key areas linked to consciousness. For days, the device sent signal, quiet pulses of hope. Then, on the seventh morning, Tristan opened his eyes. He blinked, looked around the room, and whispered, "Mom?" Cheers broke out. Not only was he awake, he was fully restored, speaking clearly, remembering everything, even walking within hours. News of the miracle spread globally throughout the medical community. Doctors called it a breakthrough in coma recovery science. Tristan's recovery was complete, no brain damage, no lingering effects, just an energetic boy full of life. Elon Musk is hailed as a hero, not just for his genius, but for his compassion. At a press conference, Tristan hugged Elon tightly and said, "You gave me back my life." Elon simply smiled and replied, "You've got a lot more living to do, kid." The claim is false. There is no evidence Neuralink performed a brain implant on a child, nor that the company has technology with the ability to wake people from comas. Google search results from April 15, 2025, show only stories related to the above Facebook post or news regarding patients who have undergone Neuralink brain implants. We reached out to the Facebook account, @JonathanGregory, seeking comment, and will update this story if we receive a response. The account's bio linked to a site (archived) claiming to belong to stand-up comedian Jonathan Gregory. As of February 2025, Neuralink had provided brain implants for three people (archived), none of whom was a child or in a coma. As we previously reported in a story about a similar claim that Musk arranged a brain implant for a sick girl, Neuralink's website requires that applicants for future trials are legal adults and the "age of majority in your state," and have one or more of the following conditions: Quadriplegia Paraplegia Visual impairment or blindness Speech disorder or inability/difficulty speaking Hearing impairment or deafness Missing limb or major limb amputation There is also no evidence of the mentioned "press conference" occurring. No reputable outlet reported on such an event. According to AI-detection software Hive, the image featured on the Facebook post was AI-generated. Hive also determined that the text of the post was 56.7% likely to be AI-generated. (Hive) The Facebook post indicated the source of the claim might be "@newsmax," but the Newsmax site (archived) contained no such story. In sum, a Facebook user fabricated this story for clicks and AI-generated the featured image. There is no evidence Musk facilitated a procedure that woke a child up from a coma, and, as of this writing, Neuralink has provided brain implants to only three adults. Sources 'Jonathan Gregory'. Adobe Express, https://new.express.adobe.com/page/O8aSSIVjaQCs7/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.Neuralink. 'A Year of Telepathy'. Neuralink Blog, 5 Feb. 2025, https://neuralink.com/blog/a-year-of-telepathy/.Wazer, Caroline. 'Don't Fall for This Story about Musk Paying Medical Bills, Arranging Neuralink Brain Implant for Sick Girl'. Snopes, 26 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/girl-musk-medical-bills/.- YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM0oLkPs6s4. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. By Taija PerryCook Taija PerryCook is a Seattle-based journalist who previously worked for the PNW news site Crosscut and the Jordan Times in Amman. "); } else if(is_tablet()){ document.write(""); } Article Tags