Teen transported to hospital after being found at bottom of Rosemont pool

A 14-year-old studentfromcolePre-Marquetteis in critical condition after he was found at the bottom of anindoor pool Thursday morning in RosemontLaPetite-Patrie.

Urgences-sant said itreceived a call around 9:45 a.m. about a minor in cardiac arrest. Paramedics arrived at the scene five minutes later to find the teenager had been pulled out of the water by a lifeguard.

"It was a very sad accident where paramedics had to intervene," saidValrieTremblay, the director of operations forUrgences-sant.

"We had three vehicles with paramedics sent to the scene."

The boy, who is in Grade 8,was then rushedtohospital fromCentre Pre-Marquette, a City of Montreal community centre locatedacross from the school,atthe intersection of de Drucourt and Fabrestreets.

Urgences-santconfirmed he had a pulse at the time he was transported to hospital. A lifeguard was treated for shock by paramedics at the scene.

A spokesperson for theCommission scolaire de Montral(CSDM) confirmed that the incident occurred during a gym class at the centre while the gym teacher and at least one lifeguard werepresent. There were about 25 students in the class.

A team of psychologists was sentto the high school to provide support to students and staff late Thursday morning, according to the CSDM.

A City of Montreal spokesperson said the youth's family is at his side at the hospital.

'Rare situation'

FranoisLpine, the director of the Quebec branch of the Lifesaving Society,said the ratio ofinstructors to a group of fewerthan 30 students was respected in this case, since both a gym teacher and a lifeguard were present.

"It takes a physical educator who is trained by the Education Ministry with a specific training of 90 hours of teaching aquaticactivities," he said.

"And if they don'thave that training, a national lifeguard needs to be present on deck."

The incident that unfolded at the public pool was a "rare situation,"according to Lpine.

"Drowning in public facilities in less than one per cent of all the drownings that occur in Canada and in Quebec," he said.