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Child taken to Tampa after near-drowning

Brad Dickerson, Highlands Today

An Aeromed crew take a 3-year-old Avon Park child to Tampa General Hospital Friday morning as a precautionary measure after he drowned in a pool at his home on Lake Lotela Drive. Family members quickly performed CPR and were able to revive the victim.

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: April 10, 2009

AVON PARK - A 3-year-old child was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital as a precautionary measure Friday morning after nearly drowning in a pool at 1230 Lake Lotela Drive in Avon Park.

Emergency personnel responded to the call at 10:19 a.m., according to Mike Morse, assistant chief with the Highlands Lake Fire Department. By the time EMS arrived, family members had already started CPR and the child was throwing up water.

A landing zone was established at the nearby Pinecrest on Lotela Golf Club so a helicopter could land and get the child to the hospital. Morse said the victim was conscious when the Aeromed crew arrived.

Lt. Kenny Johnson, with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, did not have the child's name, but said the incident was accidental. He added that there were no security features around the pool when the child fell in.

Johnson said it was "very unlikely" the child's condition would take a turn for the worst.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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