Rescue helicopter called to near-drowning at Wategos Beach, Byron Bay in northern NSW on Monday

Bystanders say a child treated by the public and paramedics at a busy Byron beach today was a little girl brought back from the brink of death. Here’s the latest.

Emergency services have been called to Wategos Beach at Byron Bay.

Bystanders say a child treated by the public and paramedics at a busy Byron Bay beach after suffering a medical episode in the surf was a little girl brought back from the brink of death.

Emergency services were called to Wategos Beach on Marine Parade, on the northern side of Cape Byron near the town centre, just before midday on Monday.

The girl who suffered a seizure in the water was taken to the Cavanbah Centre by paramedics, before being flown to the Gold Coast University Hospital by Lismore-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter

Surfer Annie Granier says the little girl was lucky to survive a near-drowning at the Byron beach. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Surfer Annie Granier was at the beach at the time of the harrowing incident and said: “She drowned, they brought her back.”

“Two swimmers found her floating unconscious. They pulled her out of the water and onto the beach where she was resuscitated by members of the public,” she said.

Popular Wategos Beach at Byron Bay.

“She was laid on her side and vomited up a lot of water and was screaming. She was aged around seven to ten.”

Ms Granier said she believed the girl suffered from an epileptic seizure.

“(The) ambulance took 35 minutes to arrive, she was taken to hospital,” she said.

It has been confirmed by NSW Ambulance the girl suffered from a seizure.

The chopper service said in a statement it was tasked to the beach about midday “to attend (to) a young female pulled unconscious from the water”.

Wategos Beach at Byron Bay shortly after the incident. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“Members of the public commenced CPR prior to the arrival of paramedics, who provided further treatment before transporting the patient by road to a local sports field,” it read.

“On arrival, the helicopter critical care medical team continued treatment of the patient before airlifting her to Gold Coast University Hospital.”

NSW Ambulance was not immediately able to confirm the girl’s exact age, or her condition at time of transport to hospital.