A quick-thinking six-year-old helped save the life of his baby sister after jumping in to drag her apparently lifeless body from the family pool.

Using skills picked up at summer swim school, Georgie Dragonetti leapt to action after two-and-half-year-old Kate was spotted floating face down in the deep end.

Warwick Academy student Georgie swam out to his sister's side and pulled her to the water's edge while brother Luke, five, rushed in to alert mum Christine who ran out to see a mother's worst nightmare come true. She said: "She had stopped breathing and was blue.

"I was relieved when I checked her pulse. I put her across my arm and pounded her back. She coughed and vomited and woke up and got her colour back."

Yesterday Christine, 34, and her husband George Sr., 35, were full of praise for their hero son.

The relieved father, who was at work at the time of the incident, said: "It's an incredible thing he did. She was in there for four or five minutes, it was really scary.

"He learned water safety from the Aquamania programme he attends in Warwick. They told him if a child falls in you scream for help and try to pull them to the side. He did exactly what he was told to do.

"Calling 911 was an added bonus but he's an alert little guy and he directed them to the house. Mr. Dragonetti added: "George saved the day - he was a real hero and I am proud of him. Some readers might wonder where the mother was, but it was a freak thing."

Christine had been in the bathroom after the family had returned from a day out and she had set tired Kate down in front of the TV with a glass of milk and told her to stay put.

But Kate had followed her two brothers and their friend Patricio Sousa to the pool at the Dragonetti's home in Middle Road, Southampton. While the boys played in the pool Kate had fallen in trying to fetch one of her buoyancy aids. But because she had just returned from a trip she was not wearing a wrist alarm which sets off a piercing noise in the house when it gets wet.

Neighbour Patricio, nine, was the first to spot something was wrong when he looked up.

He said: "I thought she was dead. She was floating face down with her arms stretched out by her side. Georgie jumped in and held her head out of the water as he swam along with her to the edge."

From there Kate was dragged out by her frantic mum who performed emergency aid. Doctors later told the worried mum that there was no lasting harm to Kate despite the ordeal. Christine kept watch over Kate as she stayed overnight at hospital for observations.

She said: "I was just happy to see her breathing again."

Meanwhile Georgie was enjoying the plaudits from punters at the Mr Softys where he was taken by his dad, who had rushed to the scene, for an extra large milkshake. He said: "I told them what had happened - he got a standing ovation. It was a good night for him."

Yesterday, Kate seemed to be taking it all in her stride and was more interested in showing visitors her rubber duck than talking about the incident when the Royal Gazette paid her a visit yesterday.

Her dad predicted she would not let Thursday's horror get to her.

"I have a feeling she will be right back in the pool, she's very resilient."