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Child Rescued After Falling into Pool

A Las Vegas valley toddler is recovering after falling into a backyard pool. It was a situation that could have easily become deadly, but police and the child's family are crediting the quick thinking of a neighbor for saving the child's life.

The toddler and her family are at UMC, where she'll remain overnight for observation, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Family members stood helplessly and in tears only hours after their 17-month old relative fell into the family's pool. "By the time officers got here, bystanders had already got the child out of the pool," said Metro Officer Bill Cassell.

One of those bystanders is a neighbor who will likely never forget the ordeal. "I heard the ladies over there screaming and asked them and one of the babies had fallen into the pool," said Timothy Amber.

Amber says when he saw the child, it was apparent she was unconscious and in bad shape. But as a home health care provider he knew immediately what to do. "Turned her head over so that I could do CPR and the other guy was pumping on her and we pounded on her for a little bit and finally got the fluids out of her lungs," said Amber.

The child was rushed to UMC Pediatrics leaving onlookers in neighborhood curious to what happened.

As authorities continue investigating how the child fell in the pool, they say the important message to others is knowing how to react. "It's important for anyone who has normal, constant interaction with children to know first aid, basic CPR," said Officer Cassell.