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North Vancouver boy nearly drowns

A young boy is in intensive care after almost drowning in his North Vancouver familys pool over the weekend. Emergency crews raced to a home on the 800-block of East 11th Street around 6 p.m.

A young boy is in intensive care after almost drowning in his North Vancouver familys pool over the weekend.

Emergency crews raced to a home on the 800-block of East 11th Street around 6 p.m. Saturday after his grandmother spotted the unresponsive five-year-old in the pool.

One of the family members was able to retrieve him and do CPR and somebody else called 9-1-1. It all happened very quickly, said RCMP spokesman, Cpl. Richard De Jong,

Paramedics rushed the boy to Lions Gate Hospital, but he was quickly transferred to B.C. Childrens Hospital in Vancouver.

As of Tuesday morning, the boys precarious condition had stabilized, according to De Jong.

Hes been upgraded from serious to stable so thats good news on that part, but hell be in B.C. Childrens (Hospital) for some time.

There is no indication how long the youngster had been submerged in the water, or how he got into the gated pool area, De Jong said.

The RCMP does not take a position on what building and fencing requirements should be in place around pools, as that falls under municipal jurisdiction, but the incident is a reminder about the inherent danger that comes with kids and water.

Its obviously traumatic for everybody there and for all first responders. Victims services have been actively working with them. Its a horrific event, very unfortunate and also preventable, and thats the message for everyone with a swimming pool: Be extra vigilant any time of the year, said De Jong.

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