Child in critical condition after being pulled from Gulf of Mexico in Santa Rosa Beach

SANTA ROSA BEACH — A child was taken to an area hospital in critical condition Wednesday afternoon after being pulled from the Gulf of Mexico.

A South Walton Fire District lifeguard was heading to another medical call when they were stopped by bystanders near Gulfview Heights Street in Santa Rosa Beach, according to a SWFD news release.

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Bystanders alerted the lifeguard to a group of people helping a child back to shore. Witnesses said the child was found floating face down in the water at around 3 p.m. near the second sandbar.

The lifeguard entered the water to help the group back to shore. People in the group had already started CPR and lifesaving measures, according to the SWFD.

Additional SWFD Advanced Life Support Units assumed care after arriving on scene and took the child to a hospital. The child was listed in critical condition on Thursday. No further information was available.

Yellow and purple flags were flying at the time of the incident, indicating a moderate risk of rip currents and hazards, as well as the presence of jellyfish.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Child hospitalized after near-drowning at Santa Rosa Beach