Toddler pulled from hot springs near Matamata

"Once removed from the pools, the child started breathing on his own again," said pilot Todd Dunham, of the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter. Photo / Supplied

A 3-year-old boy has been discharged from Waikato Hospital after he was found floating face-down in a pool.

"Once removed from the pools, the child started breathing on his own again," said pilot Todd Dunham, of the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter, which was sent to the hot springs near Matamata at 2pm yesterday.

Mr Dunham said the boy "was crying, he was very stressed out".

"He was pretty upset, but considering what had happened to him he was pretty good.

"He wasn't in a very good condition when he was taken out of the pool but I don't think he needed CPR; he started breathing on his own. He's a very lucky boy."

St John paramedics checked the boy before he was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.

Brian Anderson, the manager of Opal Hot Springs and Holiday Park, said the family were day visitors at the facility.

The toddler was with his aunty, who found him floating in the water. "They pulled him out of the water and must have put him in the recovery position and he started breathing on his own," Mr Dunham said.