Girl Speaks First Word After Nearly Drowning, Family Says

The Seattle toddler nearly drowned in a neighborhood pond.

ByABC News
April 12, 2016, 4:52 PM

— -- A toddler spoke her first words after nearly drowning in a neighborhood pond in Washington state, according to family members.

Catalina Ackers, 2, was found by her older brother face down in the pond after sneaking away from her family as they were in the process of moving, according to Seattle ABC News affiliate KOMO-TV.

"Just to see her laying there not moving was...there are no words to see your child like that. Not at all, not at all," Natalie Holiday told KOMO.

Neighbor Steven Schwab said he ran to the pond after he heard the cries of Catalina's brother. He pulled Catalina from the pond and started to give her CPR.

"She was limp and her eyes closed," Schwab recalled.

A police officer responded to the call and took over CPR from Schwab.

The toddler eventually started to cough up water and was taken to Seattle Children's Hospital. Holiday told KOMO that her daughter was able to come out of sedation a day earlier and without any sign of impairment.

"Her big brown doe eyes are just sparkling, she's back, she's back," Holiday said.

Catalina, who is developmentally disabled, started to speak -- a first for the little girl.

"The first thing she said when she came out of sedation was 'mommy,'" Holiday told KOMO. "She is speaking clear language, words. So something clicked, her face is the same, but as her mother she is a different child."

The family even got to bring Catalina home from the hospital a day early and will be meeting with the police officer who helped save her life.

The Holiday family did not immediately respond to a request for comment.