Ritz pool drama

A WORRIED mum has urged pool-side vigilance after she dashed to the rescue of a young child found floating face down and lifeless in a luxury hotel swimming pool.

Debra Payne, 44, sprang into action to administer the 'kiss of life' after another member of the public pulled the boy, thought to be aged around six, from the water at the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa on Friday afternoon.

Mrs Payne, herself a mother of two, teaches at Chaoss Gym Club. She ran her own gymnastics club in the UK before coming to Bahrain last August.

As such she had to be certified in first aid and when she saw the small, lifeless body, her training took over. She said: "It was all a bit of a scramble and, to be honest, I couldn't even tell you who pulled him out of the water I just knew it didn't look good, he wasn't breathing.

"I've only ever done CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) on a dummy before, but I knew I couldn't make things any worse so I just got on and gave it a go.

"Then a nurse came over and I was glad to hand over to her, thanks to her efforts the little boy soon started spluttering and before long he was breathing again.

"I believe he was taken to hospital and the hotel called me later that night to say he was stable."

The child's identity has not been revealed but his mother, who rushed to the scene, wore an abaya and it is believed he was of Arabic origin and was staying at the hotel as a guest with his family.

Mrs Payne said: "It all happened so quickly, he was probably only out of his parents' sight for seconds but it could have been a tragedy.

"I would urge all parents to be on their guard and make sure their children can swim if they are going to be near water. My own two daughters, Rebecca, 10, and Nicky, seven, are both good swimmers. It's something we've always insisted on, particularly since we came to Bahrain.

"I know a child can drown in a puddle, but at least if they know how to swim they have a better chance of helping themselves.

"Another mother who was there also asked me where I had learned first aid as she said it was not the first time she had been in a situation where someone had got into trouble in the water and most people didn't know what to do.

"It would be good to see more first aid classes in the kingdom too for both for parents and maids who often have charge of the children."

Five children drowned in Bahrain last year - two in swimming pools - and police recently launched a nationwide safety campaign in the hope that this summer passes without tragedy.

The Ritz Carlton declined to comment on the incident saying it was a private matter.