A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl nearly drowned at Saltdean Lido.

Eyewitnesses told how a member of public dragged the girl from the pool on Sunday afternoon before performing CPR.

She was said to be “blue all over” as staff called for an ambulance.

Last night Lido staff said in a statement that the girl was alive and had been treated in hospital.

A mother-of-two, who asked not to be named, said: “A member of the public pulled her out of the water, she was literally blue.

“I don’t know how long she under for.

“Everyone started to scream and panic.

“It frightened me. The staff didn’t appear to know what to do. That girl could have died if it wasn’t for that man who saved her,

“There were so many screaming and crying children.”

The 44-year-old, from Portslade, added: “My kids and I had a very sleepless night, and my daughter is now terrified and scared of going back to the pool.

“It was really awful and we didn’t know if she was dead or alive.”

Shocked members of the public tweeted about the incident in the hours after.

Nicola McCoosh wrote: “We were just leaving as the incident happened. Been praying the child is ok and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since we left.”

Dee McMahon tweeted: “Little girl is ok. In hospital and traumatised but could have been so much worse.

“That poor mum. Was just awful.”

Meanwhile Tracey Buckingham tweeted in support of the staff’s reaction. She said: “I would like to commend all the staff today.

“Your quick response to a terrifying emergency was absolutely fantastic.

“Such a terrifying experience for everyone.”

A spokesman for Saltdean Lido said: “Fusion Lifestyle can confirm that an incident took place at Saltdean Lido on Sunday and emergency services were called to attend site.

“Staff members administered first aid at the scene and a nine-year-old girl was later taken to hospital.”

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said they were called to Saltdean Lido around 5pm after reports of a girl who had swallowed water.

Two fast response cars and an ambulance attended the incident.  

She was taken to Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in a stable condition. 

Saltdean Lido reopened in June following a £3 million renovation project, which has seen a heated 40 metre pool and separate children’s paddling pool built from scratch following the original 1930s design.