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Saanich boy rushed to hospital after near-drowning

Five-year-old pulled boy slid into pool at Lochside Drive home and never resurfaced
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Aerial view of a pool off 4300 Lochside Drive in Saanich.

A five-year-old Saanich boy has been rushed to hospital after he went down a slide into a backyard pool but never resurfaced.

The incident happened just after 3 p.m. today, when the boy was pulled unresponsive from the pool in the 4300 block of Lochside Drive in Saanich.

An off-duty Victoria firefighter who was a guest at the home performed first aid and the boy became semi-conscious before being rushed to hospital by advanced life support ambulance paramedics.

Saanich Police say they believe the boy was at the home as a guest.

"Fortunately, the pool was being closely monitored by adults and a mother jumped into the pool bringing the boy to the surface," according to a Saanich Police news release.

"As we enter into the warmer months of summer, we remind people to remain vigilant with their children whenever playing near the local beaches or pools. In this instance, good parental supervision, and quick actions of those in attendance may have averted a tragedy. The boy was under the water for a very short period of time which may be instrumental in his recovery."

There's no update yet on the victim's condition, but police said he is believed to be conscious.

More to come