The incident happened around 2 p.m. at an apartment complex on North Backer Avenue, near the intersection of Maple and Shaw avenues.
Fresno police officers responded to a call about a 1-year-old boy and girl who nearly drowned in a fish pond at the Maplewood Apartments. Police say the toddlers climbed over a back patio while they were playing with other older children. They ended up in the 2- to 3-foot pond, and they couldn't climb out.
"They were cyanotic, according to the doctor, which means they were turning blue, which is a pretty bad scene," said Fresno police Lt. Joe Gomez.
Neighbors with young children were overwhelmed with emotions after learning about the near-drowning.
"I would die. That's so young," said Keri Cook.
Police say an adult's decision to perform CPR may have saved both lives.
"It's fantastic and it doesn't require much; it was rescue breathing. I think they did some compressions too because they were spitting up some of the water from the pond and vomiting," said Gomez. "If you have a pool, you have to be extremely careful if you have children. You've got to watch them all the time."
Investigators believe the children could have been underwater for at least one or two minutes. The toddlers were treated at St. Agnes Medical Center, but both were expected to be transported to Children's Hospital Central California.
Police say at this point, no criminal charges will be filed.
