Townsville primary school student fights for their life after almost drowning in a river

A nine-year-old girl is fighting for her life after almost drowning in a river and spending as long as 20 minutes underwater.

The young child was taken in a critical condition to Townsville Hospital after being pulled from the Ross River in the city’s west at Aitkenvale on Monday afternoon. 

It is believed a large crowd had gathered prior to the arrival of multiple ambulance crews – including dozens of police officers.

Paramedics were called at about 4.39pm to Kimball Street, a spokesman for the Queensland Ambulance Service said.

Multiple ambulance crews were called to the ‘post immersion incident’, before the child was taken in a police escort ‘under lights and sirens’ to the city’s main hospital. 

Child Protection Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant David Miles told The Townsville Bulletin the girl, who is believed to be of African descent, was swimming as part of a group when she went under.

He added another child who was a part of the group raised the alarm that the girl had gone under the water.

A witness said they heard screaming from one person crowded along the river bank, which they assumed was a member of the nine-year-old girl’s family.

Paramedics were called at about 4.39pm to Kimball Street, a spokesman for the Queensland Ambulance Service said

Emergency crews performed CPR on the child – with it understood the young girl spent at least ten minutes underwater.

‘Most of the efforts were concentrated on locating the young girl and getting her to the surface,’ he said.

‘We are hoping and praying that we get a positive outcome this afternoon.’

The location along the Ross River is a popular watersports and swimming area, but Det Seargent Miles said the pontoon had been washed away in flooding during the Townsville floods in February.