One dead, two critical after separate drowning incidents

Two men who rescued a woman and child from drowning in a swimming pool say they are praying the pair pull through.

TWO men who rescued a woman and child from drowning in a swimming pool say they are praying the pair pull through.

A 31-year-old woman and an 11-year-old boy were last night fighting for their lives in separate hospitals after they were found unconscious at The Grange residential complex pool at Brendale, north of Brisbane.

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David Perkins and David Crowley were first on the scene, and have been praised by paramedics for their quick actions after rescuing the Chinese nationals from the pool and performing CPR.

Mr Perkins, a tradesman, was just getting home from work about 1pm yesterday when a distressed girl shouted for help.

“I followed her to the gate and saw two bodies right at the bottom in the deep end and thought “no no no”, he told The Courier-Mail in an exclusive interview.

“I chucked my phone, because I knew I’d need it for triple-0, then straight in.”

David Perkins. Picture: Josh Woning/AAP

David Crowley. Picture: Channel 7

Mr Perkins pulled the woman and the boy from the water and began CPR, stopping only to call triple-0.

“I was working on the boy, saying ‘Come on give me something,’ but just nothing,” he said.

Mr Perkins was joined by Mr Crowley, who was working from home when he heard Mr Perkins calling for help.

Mr Crowley rushed to pool and commenced CPR on the woman while Mr Perkins called triple-0.

“There was a lot of fluid on their lungs and trying to clear that out for CPR was very difficult,” Mr Perkins said.

“I’m glad we managed to get the High Acuity Response Unit and the paramedics on scene quickly.

The pool area at the Brendale gated complext. Picture: Josh Woning/AAP

“I think having them gave them the best chance.”

“We hope that they pull through from this.”

Nine QAS units, including intensive care paramedics, responded to the incident.

Another child was taken to hospital following another near-drowning in Brisbane’s south.

The incident happened at a private residence at Sunnybank Hills about 6pm. The child was taken to Queensland Children’s Hospital in a stable condition.

And a man, believed to be in his 80s, was pulled unconscious from the surf at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast just after 1pm.

Surf lifesavers and paramedics attempted CPR but the man died at the scene.

Additional reporting Kate Kyriacou & Matty Holdsworth

Police at the scene of the near drowning at Brendale. Picture: Annette Dew