LOCAL : Nearly Drowned Girl, 5, Critical

ORANGE —  A-year-old girl who was found at the bottom of her grandparents’ swimming pool in Fullerton remained in critical condition this morning at Childrens Hospital of Orange County in Orange.

Randi Newkirk and her 3-year-old sister, Robyn, were rescued about 1 p.m. Wednesday at 1831 N. Sunset Lane where their grandmother, Lois Newkirk, 59, was baby-sitting them. Newkirk pulled Robyn to safety when she saw that she was floating face down in the pool.

Firefighters called to the house later found Randi lying on the bottom of the deep end. By the time they brought her up, she was not breathing and her heart had stopped. Both girls were revived at the scene.

Robyn was listed in fair condition at St. Jude Hospital and Rehabilitation Center. A hospital spokesman said today that Randi, whose chance for survival has been rated as slim, was breathing with the help of a respirator.