Neighbor Saves Child, 2, in Pool Accident

A 2-year-old girl nearly drowned in a swimming pool after removing her arm floats and was rescued by a neighbor, authorities said Wednesday.

Guadelupe Ocampo was swimming with her mother and 5-year-old brother in a pool near her family’s apartment about 7 p.m. Tuesday when for an unknown reason she removed her floats, Sheriff’s Lt. Ron Wilkerson said. Her 25-year-old mother, Maria Castaneda, saw the toddler floating face down moments later and screamed for help, authorities said.

Tracy Lloyd Hatfield, a 24-year-old neighbor who lives in the same apartment complex on Aliso Creek Road, jumped into the pool and carried the girl out. Hatfield then revived her using cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Wilkerson said.

Guadelupe was taken to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills for an examination and was released, deputies said.

It was the 36th near-drowning involving children in the county this summer, according to the Orange County Fire Authority and Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Twelve children have drowned so far this year, records show.