A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy is in a critical condition after being hauled from a lake yesterday evening.
The toddler was found unresponsive after emergency services were scrambled to Swanwick Lake, near Fareham, Hants.
Officers were called at 8.21pm and attended with paramedics and firefighters, who rescued the little boy from the water.
He was rushed to Southampton General Hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition.
An 18-year-old man from Southampton, who is known to the boy, has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Police are investigating how the boy was in the water, and urged anyone who was at the beauty spot between 7.45pm and 8.30pm to contact them.
'SHOCK'
Hampshire Police said they are keeping "an open mind" over the incident.
The car park next to the reserve remains taped off today, The Daily Echo reported.
Two police cars and a police van are at the scene along with officers.
Detective Inspector Toby Elcock said: “We know this incident will come as a shock to the local community.
We are keeping an open mind as to what has happened, and we are keen to speak to anyone in the area to help us build up a picture of the circumstances
"But we ask people to please not speculate as we follow up all lines of enquiry to establish how the boy came to be in the water.
“We are keeping an open mind as to what has happened, and we are keen to speak to anyone in the area to help us build up a picture of the circumstances.
“If you were in the area at this time, please call us. Any information, no matter how small, could prove significant, so please do get in touch.”
The 36-hectare site of Swanwick Lakes was once a clay pit for a local brick works.
It is described by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust as "a beautiful oasis for nature in an otherwise urban area".
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting 44210210811.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
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