Boy, 10, trapped in swimming pool

The boy was trapped in a swimming pool for nearly 15 minutes. Photo / Thinkstock

A 10-year-old Balclutha boy was trapped in a swimming pool for nearly 15 minutes after jamming his knee yesterday afternoon.

Staff at the Balclutha Centennial Pool called the fire service shortly after 4pm after discovering the boy trapped in the pool, with his head above water.

Pool staff, including a lifeguard, kept the boy calm while waiting for the fire service to arrive.

Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade station officer Daryl Forrest said the 10-year-old boy slipped his knee between the bulkhead and the pool edge, becoming trapped for nearly 15 minutes.

Mr Forrest said he managed to slide the boy's leg free shortly after arriving.

Clutha District Council corporate services manager Alan Dickson said the council, which owns and runs the pool, would be investigating the incident to make sure it did not happen again.

The pool was closed for about half an hour while the boy was freed.

At the scene yesterday, his mother said the boy was in shock, but was otherwise "okay".

He was taken to Clutha Health First by his mother for a check-up.