A TODDLER had a miraculous escape after he fell into a pond and stopped breathing for more than five minutes.

Harry Shepherd, who is 22 months old, was found unconscious in a friend's garden pond.

His mother, Becky Cross, 25, from Greengate, Malton, was at her friend Lynn Reeves' home in Lime Tree Avenue, in the Peasey Hills area of the town.

Harry and his brother, Jack, aged four, and Lynn's children Drew, also four, and two-year-old Connor, were playing outside while the mothers watched from the kitchen.

But when it started to rain only three of the children came inside.

When Lynn and Becky went to look for Harry they found him lying lifeless in the pond.

Although the water was fenced off, he had somehow found a way in through a broken fence post.

Lynn's only medical training was three sessions at a first aid course at college, but she immediately began resuscitation while Becky called the emergency services.

Control room operator Greg Morrison took the emergency call in the police control room at Newby Wiske.

Greg, who learned first aid as a police officer in South Africa, offered advice and encouragement to Becky while Lynn continued resuscitating the tot.

Miraculously, Harry started to breathe again and when the paramedics arrived he was taken to hospital by air ambulance, which landed on a nearby field.

He was placed in intensive care at Leeds General Infirmary and has amazed everyone by making a full recovery. He is now back at home with his parents.

Harry's father, Paul, said he wanted to thank everyone involved in the rescue for saving the little boy.

Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, June 18, 2003