Toddler revives two hours after drowning

A TODDLER who was revived nearly two hours after she was believed to have drowned and 40 minutes after doctors had declared her dead was responding to touch and sound on Saturday, hospital officials said.

Twenty-month-old Mackayala Jespersen was in critical condition but responsive a day after she was found in her family’s swimming pool, said Children’s Hospital of Orange County spokeswoman Denise Almazan.

The little girl’s family thanked the public for their “prayers and support,” Almazan said.

Mackayala’s mother found her floating face down in the backyard pool on Friday morning.

Police and paramedics tried to revive her and rushed her to Anaheim Memorial Medical Centre, where doctors pronounced her dead.

Forty minutes later, police Detective Mike Kendrick was conducting a routine investigation into the death when he noticed Mackayala’s chest was moving. He summoned doctors, who revived her.

“It was a very emotional moment for everyone,” said Fullerton Police spokesman Sgt Ron Gillett. “We thought she didn’t make it and then she did. It was the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs.”

Mackayala was later transferred to Children’s Hospital. An Anaheim Memorial Medical Centre spokeswoman declined to comment on Saturday.