Toddler critically ill after pond fall

A two-year-old boy was in a critical condition in hospital yesterday after falling into a pond at his family's new home.

A two-year-old boy was in a critical condition in hospital yesterday after falling into a pond at his family's new home.

Police said the toddler, who fell into the shallow pool in the grounds of a farmhouse, is on a life support machine and described as "very poorly".

He is thought to have been immersed in the duck pond for about 20 minutes before he was found by members of his family at the farm in Carnkie, near Helston, Cornwall on Thursday afternoon. Paramedics attempted to revive him at the scene and he was then taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Truro.

A police spokesman said: "The pond was fenced off and it is not known how the child gained access. The family are at the child's bedside. Officers are speaking to them to obtain a full picture of what actually happened, but it would appear to be a tragic accident."

Neighbours said the family, which includes two other children, moved into the farmhouse only six weeks ago and kept horses on a four-acre smallholding. One neighbour said: "They had only just moved in and hadn't mixed much yet."

Another neighbour said: "They are from up country. We heard the siren, it's terrible."