'Any depth of water can be dangerous': Toddler fights for life after near-drowning

A three-year-old boy is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a near-drowning last night in Lucan-Biddulph, north of London.

The Middlesex Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Middlesex-London Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Lucan-Biddulph Fire Department responded to the incident at 8:15 p.m.

The child was located in the family's above-ground pool and received emergency CPR from family members and paramedics. He was successfully resuscitated and taken to hospital, said OPP Const. Max Gomez.

The OPP are reminding families to monitor children closely when around water.

"It could be a six-foot pool or it could be a two-foot pool. Any depth of water can be dangerous to a child and to anyone else," said Gomez.

He also recommends:

• Building a fence or self-latching gate around backyard pools.
• Using life jackets at all times.
• Clearing toys from backyard pools at the end of the day.
• Emptying kiddie pools when not in use.