Good Samaritan Helps OC Mother Revive Boy, 3, After Near-Drowning In Pool
ORANGE (CBSLA.com) — A 3-year-old boy is recovering Wednesday after nearly drowning in his apartment complex pool.
According to officials, Jose Perez was swimming Tuesday at his apartment complex in the 600 block of South Fairview Street, where he fell into the deep end of the pool and was underwater for several minutes while his mother was distracted.
KCAL9's Michele Gile spoke with Gina Contreras, a good Samaritan, who helped in Jose's rescue.
"He looked dead to me, so I got him out and I started pumping him," said Contreras. "He was, like, pale; he wasn't breathing, so I just started doing my best."
Contreras said it was a team effort to save Jose, as she dived in to rescue him and used chest compressions while his frantic mother breathed into his mouth.
The CPR attempt went on for at least two minutes before Jose began to breathe.
"Parents can never leave their children unattended, even for a little bit," Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said. "All these happen quickly, like that, and the child was at the bottom of the pool."
Concialdi said Jose is the fourth person to be taken from a pool in recent days, two of whom have died.
Doctors at the Children's Hospital Orange County saidJose is in good condition and is not in intensive care.
