Man Saw 'Something Floating' in Apartment Complex Pool, Then Realized 3-Year-Old Child Was in Critical Condition

A 3-year-old boy is in highly critical condition after he was rescued from an apartment complex pool in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, June 19.

Martin Zaragoza, a resident of the complex, was passing by the pool when he noticed something alarming.

"I turned that corner, and I saw something floating," Zaragoza told NBC affiliate KPNX. "And it looked like what could have been a kid or maybe like a little doll or something."

He rushed to the pool and pulled the toddler out of the water. The child was floating face down, and Zaragoza immediately called 911.

"Everybody came as fast as they could," he said.

The Rescue

The child's father arrived at the scene shortly after the rescue. A dispatcher provided CPR instructions over the phone as Zaragoza and another bystander worked to revive the boy.

"She helped him out. Bless her heart," Zaragoza told Arizona's Family.

The father, overwhelmed by the situation, collapsed to the ground, according to Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade.

First responders arrived quickly and transported the toddler to a nearby hospital in serious condition. The father was also taken to the hospital in stable condition.

The Aftermath

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Phoenix Fire Department and the Phoenix Police Department have not provided an update on the child's current status.

Drowning is a leading cause of death among young children. According to the Children's Safety Network, 945 children die from drowning each year in the United States, and nearly half of them are infants and toddlers.

Drowning Prevention Tips

The Children's Safety Network and other organisations recommend several measures to prevent drowning:

Supervise children at all times when they are in or near water.

Install four-sided isolation fences around pools with self-latching gates.

Provide formal swimming lessons to children as early as possible.

Learn CPR and basic water rescue techniques.

Keep rescue equipment near the pool area.

Remove toys from the pool after use to avoid attracting children.

Martin Zaragoza's quick action saved a child's life. But the toddler's condition remains critical, and the incident serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of unsupervised water access.

As the investigation continues, the community is left hoping for a recovery and reflecting on the importance of water safety.