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Mother Wakes to Find Son Floating in Pool : Accident: Newport woman says the 18-month-old was in a playpen when she dozed off. He’s in critical condition.

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

A woman awoke Thursday afternoon to find her 18-month-old boy unconscious in the family’s swimming pool, police said.

The 20-year-old mother, whose identity was not released, told police that the child was inside his playpen when she accidentally fell asleep.

“The playpen was in the family room,” Sgt. Andy Gonis said. “The mom had fallen asleep on a couch near the playpen.”

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When the woman, who lives with her parents, awoke just before 4:40 p.m., she discovered her son in the swimming pool and called for emergency help, police said.

A parking control officer near the home in the 1800 block of Port Townsend Circle quickly responded to the call and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Other officers and paramedics arrived at the Newport Hills home and took the boy to the hospital. He was in critical condition Thursday night at Children’s Hospital of Orange County in Orange.

Paramedics said the child had been in the pool as long as 30 minutes.

According to county records, five children have drowned this year in residential swimming pools in Orange County.

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