A young girl is in hospital after nearly drowning in a backyard pool at Tomakin.
Authorities say she was only underwater for a short period of time before being rescued then treated by paramedics.
New South Wales Ambulance Inspector, Steve Owen, said paramedics and the medical team from the Toll Ambulance Rescue helicopter assessed the girl on Tomakin Road around 1:20pm on Wednesday (January 25) before transferring her to hospital in a stable condition.
Mr Owen said it was a timely reminder for everyone to take extra care around the water, especially when children are present.
“Understandably, this was an incredibly distressing moment for the girl’s family,” Inspector Owen said.
“With warm weather on the way this weekend, we expect large numbers of people to be heading to beaches, pools and waterways,” he said.
“This is a timely reminder to everyone to take extra care around the water, and to nominate a water watcher to keep a close eye on kids when they’re in or near the water.
“A tragedy can occur within seconds and we don’t want your family member to be the next case we attend.”
Outside of the Tomakin call out on Wednesday, Surf Lifesavers on the Far South Coast reported no rescues were required along South Coast beaches this Australia Day.
Director of the Far South Coast Surf lifesaving Branch, Cheryl McCarthy, said clubs from Batemans Bay to Pambula were bolstered and ready to go for the public holiday.
“We’ve had over 200 preventions across our seven clubs yesterday but no rescues which is a great outcome,” Ms McCarthy said.
For information on beach safety tips this summer and how to identify a rip, visit beachsafe.org.au, Royal Lifesaving or download the Beachsafe app.
Image: NSW Ambulance, James Fennessy – East Coast Radio
