A 10-YEAR-old trainee lifeguard has made his first real life rescue after saving a young child from drowning in a deep pond.

Brave Nathan Condon put his training into practice when out cycling near his home in Frampton Cotterell he discovered a four-year-old boy who had fallen into a village pond.

Nathan, a Winterbourne Swim Academy rookie, kept calm and talked to the frightened child who was still holding the bread he had been feeding ducks in the pond whilst he fetched a long stick to help rescue the boy.

Nathan’s mum Tracie told the Gazette: “He told me he heard a little boy crying so he stopped and saw the boy about three metres into the water.

“He told Nathan he had been feeding the ducks but had fallen in.

“Nathan ran to get a large stick and shouted instructions to the boy saying I am going to hold the stick and then I will pull you out.”

The little boy’s parents were around the other side of the large pond, believed to be around 15 metres at its deepest, which was created when St Saviours’ Rise and Heather Avenue were built in the first phase of the Park Farm development.

“The boy’s parents came running round and Nathan asked one of them to hold the stick while he got down on his tummy and was able to lift the boy out,” added Mrs Condon.

“We are all very proud of Nathan but he didn’t think anything of it. He came home and told me he had helped a little boy out of a pond and then asked if he go could next door.

“It wasn’t until the academy found out about it that I asked him in more detail and he elaborated on what had happened. It was very brave of him, he loves little kids bless him and he has obviously listened to his lessons more than I thought.”

Nathan, a pupil at Frampton Cotterell Primary School, is a competent swimmer having been learning since the age of three.

“He loves the water,” added his mum. “He is like a little fish.

“After he did all his badges at swimming lessons we enrolled him on the rookie course as he wants to be a lifeguard when he is older.

“He has only been doing it a month and I wasn’t sure he was taking much in as he spends most of the lessons under water but he must have done because they teach you not to jump in but find something to help in a rescue.

“That pond is quite deep so it could have been a lot worse.”

Rob Phillips, spokesman for the swim academy based at Winterbourne International Academy, said: "We are extremely proud of Nathan.

“Not only has he become a very strong confident swimmer at the swim academy but his reaction and selfless bravery to help another child is a fantastic example to others. It just goes to show why developing a range of swimming skills is so important."