'My son was nearly gone in one second': The chilling moment a mother, 24, found her toddler 'purple' in the pool - as she warns parents about the dangers of inflatable toys

  • Shae Marr, 24, nearly lost her toddler son when he almost drowned in a pool
  • The young mother is now issuing a warning to parents about inflatables
  • She said: 'It took a second, under supervision, for me to almost lose my son'
  • The three-year-old boy 'turned purple' after an inflatable put him underwater 

By Sophie Haslett For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:25 EST, 12 November 2018 | Updated: 01:04 EST, 12 November 2018

Shae Marr suffered every parent's worst nightmare when her son nearly drowned in a home swimming pool last weekend.

The mother, 24, from Queensland, mother thought she was doing everything correctly when her partner, Fabian, was watching their three-year-old son in the shallow end of the pool, having just learned to swim.

But that quiet day took a terrifying turn when the inflatable her son was playing with overturned - leaving Fabian trapped underwater. 

'It was the worst day of my life,' Shae told FEMAIL. 'It took a second, under supervision, for me to almost lose my son.'

Shae Marr suffered every parent's worst nightmare when her son nearly drowned in a home swimming pool last weekend (both pictured)

Shae Marr suffered every parent's worst nightmare when her son nearly drowned in a home swimming pool last weekend (both pictured)

'It was the worst day of my life,' Shae (pictured with Costa) told FEMAIL. 'It took a second, under supervision, for me to almost lose my son'

'It was the worst day of my life,' Shae (pictured with Costa) told FEMAIL. 'It took a second, under supervision, for me to almost lose my son'

Last weekend, Costa was swimming in the pool at Shae's partner, Fabian's, parents' house, with his brothers and cousins.

Shae recalled he was sitting on the step of the shallow end watching the others, when an inflatable lilo went over his head and pushed him under the water:

'He was trying to push it off him, but he wasn't strong enough,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'He was only under for a second or two but must have gone under when he had no air in his lungs and took a breath under water. One second was all it took.'

She added that Costa has bravely been back in the pool since the incident, with the mother and her son going for a dip yesterday (both pictured while swimming)

She added that Costa has bravely been back in the pool since the incident, with the mother and her son going for a dip yesterday (both pictured while swimming)

The three-year-old (pictured in hospital) was in the shallow end of the pool when an inflatable covered his head and he lost his breath
He was later air lifted to hospital with dangerously low oxygen levels

The three-year-old (pictured in hospital) was in the shallow end of the pool when an inflatable covered his head and he lost his breath - he was later air lifted to hospital

Seeing what had happened, Fabian rushed over and pulled the lilo off little Costa.

'He looked at Fabian and initially seemed fine, we didn't realise he wasn't breathing,' Shae said.

They laid him down, which was when they realised something was seriously wrong.

'Water started coming out of his nose and he lost consciousness,' the young mum said. 'He had turned purple and his stomach was bloated.'

Fabian's sister called an ambulance while the distraught family performed CPR. 

'It took two cycles of CPR for Costa to take his first breath,' she said. 'It took 13 minutes for the air ambulance to arrive, during which time we were just trying to keep him awake.'

'Water started coming out of his nose and he lost consciousness,' the mum said. 'He turned purple and his stomach was bloated' (pictured: Fabian being rescued by the Flying Doctors)

'Water started coming out of his nose and he lost consciousness,' the mum said. 'He turned purple and his stomach was bloated' (pictured: Fabian being rescued by the Flying Doctors)

When they got him to the local hospital, the doctors took an X-ray of his lungs, which revealed he had water on them.

'The doctors put him on high flow oxygen, which they explained as working to inflate the lungs like a balloon to force out as much water as possible,' she said. 

The Royal Flying Doctors later took the toddler to Brisbane, due to the high amounts of lactane in his body.

Thankfully, they stabilised his oxygen levels.

'By the next morning, he woke normally, his temperature was gone, most of the water was off his lungs and the doctors were happy for him to go home,' Shae said.

'To me, this was a miracle. Less than 24 hours prior, he had to be resuscitated and now he was back to himself.

'When we got home and I knew we were clear, I just broke down and cried. I could so easily have lost my son.' 

'When we got home and I knew we were clear, I just broke down and cried. I could so easily have lost my son,' Shae said (pictured: three-year-old Costa)

'When we got home and I knew we were clear, I just broke down and cried. I could so easily have lost my son,' Shae said (pictured: three-year-old Costa)

Now, Shae wants to warn other parents about the dangers of inflatables languishing in swimming pools.

'I would urge other parents to be mindful of any inflatables in the pool, especially around young kids who may not be strong enough to move them,' she said.]

'You should also learn CPR. Fabian and his father, Mick's, knowledge of CPR saved Costa's life, and if it wasn't for their quick action, he wouldn't be here today.

'No one thinks such a thing will happen to them. We were always so careful and watching the kids. But it happened, and it only takes a second.'

How do I perform CPR? 

CHEST COMPRESSIONS CPR:

1. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person's chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.

2. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down on their chest, by one-third of the chest depth.

3. Repeat this until help arrives or the person recovers.

CHEST COMPRESSIONS WITH RESCUE BREATHS:

1. Open the airway by tilting the head and lifting the chin.

2. Pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your index finger and thumb, or seal the nose with your cheek.

3. Open the patient's mouth.

4. Take a breath and place your lips over the patient's mouth, ensuring a good seal.

5. Blow steadily for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise. Then listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled.

6. Take another breath and repeat.

Source: Health Direct 

She added that Costa has bravely been back in the pool since the incident, with the mother and her son going for a dip yesterday (Sunday 11 November). 

'It was difficult for me and I have put him back in a swimming vest for now.

'But it's only the start of summer in Queensland and with many hot days here, I know we will have many more days in the pool to come.

'I know I can get past this, and I will continue working on it and making progress. We were very lucky, and sadly not everyone is this lucky.'     

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