A Central Victorian mum whose toddler almost drowned last summer is urging parents to learn the signs of drowning and know what to do in an emergency.
Chloe Freeman and her sister-in-law had taken their five children to the Mornington Peninsula for a holiday at the end of 2023.
"We were setting up a sun tent (at Sorrento Beach) for the kids when I turned around to do a head count," Chloe said.
"I remember scanning the children, counting them one by one, and then I noticed a child face down in the water.
"At first, I thought it was another child swimming, but then I quickly realised it was my son, Lewis.
"I saw his body floating like a starfish."
Chloe instantly knew her three-year-old was in trouble and raced straight into the water.
"I noticed he was trying to lift his head, though it was a very small movement," she said.
"I ran into the water fully dressed, not knowing whether he would be alive or if it was too late.
"I was met by a man who helped me lift Lewy out of the water."
The man was a bystander who had seen what was happening and rushed to help.
"Together we ran with Lewy back to the sand," Chloe said.
"I was patting Lewy's back to clear the water from his mouth and he was making some sort of whooping sounds, so he didn't need resuscitation."
Chloe's sister-in-law called Triple Zero (000) and Sorrento paramedics Nicole Becker and Melissa Kelly soon arrived.
"Lewy was hypothermic in my arms, eyes closed, shallow breathing," Chloe said.
Lewis at the beach.
"In the ambulance, it took some time to stabilise Lewy's oxygen levels before we headed to Frankston Hospital."
Lewis spent most of the day in hospital for observation but didn't require any further treatment and was discharged that night.
"Now, 12 months on, Lewy is completely fine, but he is wary around water," Chloe said.
"He happily plays in shallow water but is reluctant to go any deeper.
"He still recalls falling into a hole at the beach or stepping down into a deeper part of the water, which is likely how it happened."
Chloe is a qualified Austswim swim teacher, has previously been a lifeguard and currently works as a primary school teacher.
She said what happened shows that accidents in the water can happen to anyone.
"Just because a child has had swimming lessons or because you have experience around water, doesn't mean you're immune to accidents," she said.
"The key message is to remain aware of the dangers that surround your kids in the water.
"I don't feel we were doing anything wrong, we weren't distracted by our phones or anything like that - we were simply trying to protect our children from the sun by setting up the sunshade.
"My message to other families would be to know what drowning looks like so you can recognise the signs when it's happening.
"Also, learn CPR - you never know when you might need to perform it.
"It's crucial to be prepared and don't underestimate the importance of water safety education.
"In that moment, if I had looked out and thought, 'a child is just swimming or playing' and had ignored the signs, Lewy would have drowned. It's that simple."
Chloe and Lewis.
Ambulance Victoria Director Emergency Management Dale Armstrong said the near-drowning was a reminder to all parents to be vigilant this summer.
"Children drowning often occurs silently and without warning after accidental falls, with children aged under four most at risk," Dale said.
"Always supervise children near water and learn CPR, in case of an emergency.
"Read the signs around waterways to familiarise yourself with the dangers and, where possible, swim between the flags at Life Saving Victoria patrolled waterways."
Chloe said she was incredibly thankful for the efforts of the paramedics, the bystander and her sister-in-law who all helped on the day.
"The two paramedics were amazing," Chloe said.
"They were incredibly calm and in control of the situation, and I felt completely safe in their hands.
"I want to thank them for choosing such a challenging but important profession.
"Paramedics are often something you don't think about until you need them, but in that moment, they were invaluable."
