Child pulled from water unconscious on Whitsunday island

A young boy has been pulled unconscious from water on Queensland's Hamilton Island.

Bystanders began CPR on the primary school aged-boy before paramedics arrived about 5.35pm on Friday evening.

First aid efforts by bystanders managed to rouse the child, who was conscious by the time paramedics arrived, but had difficulty breathing.

He was taken to the Hamilton Island Medical Centre in a serious condition and was waiting for a rescue helicopter to arrive to fly him to hospital.