Kalia said she thought the girl was trying to see how long she could hold her breath underwater.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut no bubbles were coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kalia quickly jumped into action, surfacing for a big breath before diving down to get the girl.<\/p>\n
The child was at the bottom of the deep end on a black strip, making her difficult to see, Saia said.<\/p>\n
The Baywave wave pool has a depth of up to 1.8 metres.<\/p>\n
Kalia pulled the child to the surface before passing her to her friend so she could use her arms to signal to the lifeguards.<\/p>\n
Saia passed the child on to the lifeguards, who immediately began first aid and CPR.<\/p>\n
She held towels around the toddler to provide privacy and keep from other children seeing what was going on, fearing the worst.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was unconscious, she had bile coming out of her mouth,\u201d Saia said. <\/p>\n
Lifeguards managed to get the child breathing, but she was still unconscious.<\/p>\n
Saia said it was probably only 10 to 15 minutes before the ambulance arrived, but it felt like an eternity.<\/p>\n
An ambulance was called at about 2.10pm and took the child to Tauranga Hospital in critical condition, Hato Hone St John said.<\/p>\n
A 3-year-old girl was pulled unconscious from the bottom of the BayWave wave pool on Monday, September 29.<\/p>\n
Learning later that the child had cried in the ambulance gave Saia a lot of relief.<\/p>\n
She declined to comment on questions about the toddler\u2019s caregiver, given the incident was under investigation.<\/p>\n
As a mother of five, including a 3-year-old, Saia said the event was traumatising and it kept replaying in her mind.<\/p>\n
She understood the toddler was released from the hospital on Wednesday, \u201chappy and healthy\u201d, which she described as a miracle.<\/p>\n
Baywave staff had stayed in touch with the Saia family, who live in Welcome Bay, to discuss the incident and offer support.<\/p>\n
Saia said the lifeguards were amazed by Kalia\u2019s jump into action.<\/p>\n
The Year 5 student at Tauranga Waldorf School did not have any lifeguarding experience.<\/p>\n
The Saia family (from left): Weston Saia, 13, mum Kayla Saia, Kainoa Saia, 3, Kalia Saia, 10, Lyssi Saia, 7, dad Chaeon Saia and Levi Saia, 15.<\/p>\n
Kalia\u2019s parents told SunLive they were very proud of their daughter and said she was being called an \u201cearth angel\u201d and a \u201chero\u201d by family and friends in the community.<\/p>\n
They said Kalia is the middle child, and had always acted like a little mum, taking care of her siblings and preparing their school lunches.<\/p>\n
She enjoys knitting, playing the violin and reading, and wants to become a veterinarian when she grows up.<\/p>\n
Bay Venues general manager of community facilities, Paul Dunphy, said the Baywave team wanted to acknowledge everyone who helped with the rescue. <\/p>\n
Dunphy said Kalia and her family were close by in the pool and helped get the child to lifeguards quickly.<\/p>\n
Bay Venues runs Baywave and Baypark among other community facilities. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir quick thinking and selfless actions are deeply appreciated and truly admirable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope Kalia\u2019s heroic actions and initiative inspire others to look out for one another in and around the water.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dunphy also credited Baywave\u2019s lifeguards for their professionalism and dedication in administering first aid and CPR, resuscitating the child.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe child has fully recovered and is now home with their family. This positive outcome is the result of the collective efforts of everyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bay Venues was conducting a thorough review of the incident and had contacted WorkSafe and Recreation Aotearoa as part of standard procedures for this.<\/p>\n
Dunphy previously confirmed Baywave was fully staffed with lifeguards at the time of the incident.<\/p>\n
Six lifeguards were on duty, including three stationed at the wave pool.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe operate at a ratio of one lifeguard for every 50 people in the water, which meets the current industry guideline when it comes to lifeguard staffing levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baywave\u2019s child supervision policy required one supervisor aged 16+ for every two children aged under 5 and they must stay in the pool within arm\u2019s reach. <\/p>\n
WorkSafe confirmed it had been notified of the incident and was making enquiries to determine the next steps.<\/p>\n
WorkSafe said that at this stage, it was not investigating.<\/p>\n