Calif. Five-Year-Old Helps Rescue Girl From Hot Tub

Oct. 11--IRVINE -- IRVINE -- A 5-year-old boy is being hailed as a hero for saving a 2-year-old girl who was found Sunday at the bottom of an Irvine apartment complex hot tub.

"It's great to see a 5-year-old react to a situation, realizing that someone is in trouble and immediately coming to their aid," Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz said Monday.

The two children were sitting near the hot tub at 5:45 p.m. at a building in the 1000 block of Crested Bird, when an adult who was monitoring them turned away and the girl fell into the water, losing consciousness, OCFA Capt. Stephen Horner said.

She was underwater for less than a minute when the 5-year-old pulled her out, Horner said.

The name of the girl, who is from Los Angeles, was not released. She was initially treated at Hoag Hospital but was transferred to and discharged from Children's Hospital of Orange County.

Authorities have not identified the 5-year-old boy, who was celebrating his birthday when the rescue occurred, or determined his relationship to the girl.

The OCFA on Monday released a two-minute recording of a 911 call from bystanders who witnessed the near-drowning. Someone performed CPR on the girl as they awaited paramedic help.

A female who phoned dispatchers initially reported that the girl's condition seemed dire.

"I don't think she is breathing," the caller said calmly.

Then another female comes on the line and tells the dispatcher the girl's condition has improved.

"She is breathing," the female said. "She's moving. She's conscious; we brought her back."

"Good job," the dispatcher replies. "That's awesome ... You guys did a great job."

There was no lifeguard on duty at the community pool area where the hot tub is located, Horner said.

The following safety precautions should be taken to prevent drownings, according to the Orange County Task Force on Drowning Prevention:

• Someone should actively supervise even those who are competent swimmers.
• Put barriers between water and children, such as pool fencing and secured pool covers.
• Ensure that those around water have had classes for swimming, and when appropriate, CPR training.

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