A two-year-old boy was rushed to hospital in critical condition following a Palm Beach pool emergency after he was found submerged and not breathing in a backyard swimming pool.
NSW Ambulance and NSW Police responded to the incident at a residential property on Barrenjoey Road shortly after 1.45 pm on Thursday, 29 October 2026. The toddler was believed to have been underwater for approximately 10 minutes before being discovered. CPR was reportedly performed under instructions from a Triple Zero call operator while emergency services travelled to the property. How the boy gained access to the reportedly fenced swimming pool was unclear at the time of the incident.
Emergency Response To Palm Beach Pool Emergency
Three ambulance crews, including intensive care paramedics, reportedly attended the property. A Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter also responded, landing at Hitchcock Park in Avalon Beach shortly after 2.15 pm.
Police transported the aeromedical team from the park to the residence, where paramedics were attempting to resuscitate the child. After receiving emergency medical treatment at the property, the boy was reportedly taken under police escort to Northern Beaches Hospital shortly before 3 pm.
He was subsequently reported to have been placed on life support before being transferred to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, for intensive care. His latest medical condition has not been independently confirmed.
Childhood Drowning And Backyard Pool Safety
Research by Royal Life Saving Australia recorded 170 drowning deaths among children aged under five across Australia between 2016–17 and 2025–26. Of those fatalities, 83 occurred in swimming pools, with residential backyard pools accounting for 93 per cent of swimming pool deaths in the age group.
The National Drowning Report 2026 recorded 11 drowning deaths among children under five during the 2025–26 financial year. Royal Life Saving Australia recommends active adult supervision, restricting children’s access to water, water safety education and CPR training as key drowning prevention measures. NBC’s pool safety guidelines also provide information on residential swimming pool registration, fencing requirements and the maintenance of safety barriers and gates.
Published 6-November-2026
