Lifeguard saves drowning child at Miami Co. YMCA

A lifeguard at the YMCA near Tipp City today rescued a child who had to be resuscitated after nearly drowning in the pool.

The 6-year-old boy, a day-camp participant, was in the shallow area before drifting into the deep and going under water, according to Donn Craig, branch executive at the Miami County YMCA, 3060 S. County Road 25A.

The child was at the bottom of the pool and is believed to have been under water for nearly 10 seconds, Craig said.

The lifeguard noticed the child and jumped in. The child was not conscious at first, but CPR was administered and the child started breathing again, according to Craig.

“Our lifeguard responded right away,” Craig said. “The lifeguard saw that he was on the bottom of the pool, went down, pulled him up, brought him up to the surface and revived him. The child was conscious and talking to us about 30 seconds later.”

The child’s father responded to the YMCA and accompanied his son to the hospital.

There were 15 day-campers, ranging in age from 6 to 12, in the pool at the time of the incident. Craig said there were two certified lifeguards on duty as well as four to five day-camp staff members.

“This one had a good ending for us. We’re very pleased with the way our staff acted,” Craig said.