BAYONNE – Five year old and 21 month old brothers are in critical condition in separate hospitals after they were pulled from a backyard above-ground pool by their father on May 20, a police spokeswoman said.
At about 6:15 p.m., police officers responded to a Packard Street address on the report of an unconscious juvenile, according to Bayonne Police Lt. Janine Foy.
“When the first responding officer arrived, the 5-year-old was conscious; however, the 21-month-old was unresponsive,” Foy said in a statement. “Life-saving efforts were administered to the 21-month-old by the officer and the child’s father until ambulance personnel arrived.”
The Bayonne Fire Department was also on the scene, and assisted the second responding police officer in the care of the five-year-old until a second ambulance arrived, according to Foy.
Both boys were transported to Bayonne Medical Center, where doctors made the decision to transfer the 21-month-old to Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Foy said.
As of late morning on May 21, the 21-month-old was listed as critical but stable, and the five-year-old as critical, according to Foy.
The Hudson County Prosecutors Office is handling the investigation.