17-Year-Old Rescued by Lifeguards at Dana Point Harbor

Three drownings were reported in Orange County in the past two days, fire officials said.

Just after 6 p.m., there was a call of a 3-year-old girl who fell into a backyard pool in the 500 block of Calle de Soto in San Clemente, Capt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority said.

The girl was left alone momentarily, but her father returned to find her in the pool, Concialdi said.

She had also removed her floaties, he said.

Firefighters performed CPR on the girl, who was transported to the Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo with moderate injuries, Concialdi said.

"Children three years or younger need to stay at arms length of their parents," he said.

At 3 p.m., there was a report of a 17-year-old in Dana Pont Harbor who was unfamiliar with surf conditions and needed to be rescued by lifeguards, according to the fire captain.

He was hospitalized in an unknown condition, but was expected to be OK, Concialdi said.

On Thursday, a 9-year-old special needs boy was hospitalized in serious condition after an incident in a community pool in Santa Ana, according to Concialdi.

The incident happened at 3:45 p.m. at the Jerome Park public pool at 726 Center St., Concialdi said. The boy was discovered in the bottom of the pool and was taken to Coastal Community Hospital, he said.

So far this year, there have been 10 fatal drownings in Orange County and 18 cases where people needed water rescues, Concialdi said.

The captain added that one of the best ways to prevent drowning is to always swim with a buddy.

--City News Service