GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A father told Channel 9 that he looked away for just a moment before he discovered his 2-year-old son face down in a pool.
Anthony Hale recounted the terrifying moment on Thursday when he found his son, Bryson, and a 2-year-old friend in a swimming pool at a home on Alexis Lucia Road in Gaston County.
Hale said he was watching the children play on the front porch and stepped away to use the bathroom. He said he came back two minutes later and the boys were gone.
He ran around the house with a surgically repaired knee and found them in a swimming pool. Bryson's friend managed to keep his head up in the 3 feet of water, but Bryson could not.
"There my son was floating in the pool, face down, lifeless," Hale said.
Hale grabbed his son and prayed as he worked to clear Bryson's airway.
(Click PLAY to watch the emotional moments as Anthony Hale talks about his son's near drowning)
"I cannot do this. I cannot take this. Lord, help me, please," Hale said. "If it wasn't for the Lord my son wouldn't be here right now."
Kathleen Redmon was called to help because she was the only adult in the home who knew CPR.
"Thankful that I was here and able to provide for that baby," Redmon said.
Bryson wasn't under water long enough to cause brain damage. Doctors at Carolina Medical Center want to make sure Bryson can eat solids. His family said that if he can do that, he will be released Saturday and will rest at home.
The other 2-year-old in the pool is OK. He is home with his family.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- WATCH: Man dragged from United Airlines flight
- Witness helped identify suspects in deadly triple shooting at Hickory pub
- 2 teens arrested in slaying of police officer's son to face judge
- FIREBALL: Viewers spot meteor streaking across night sky
- VIDEO: Christine Rapp's Thursday morning forecast
- New video shows moments before passenger was dragged off plane