The two-year-old boy has since been discharged from Newcastle Childrens’ Hospital after he was found floating face down in a backyard swimming pool on Saturday afternoon.

Detectives were following up the incident today, but senior police have praised the efforts of a resident who performed CPR on the toddler until he started breathing again.The boy was taken to Cessnock Hospital before later being transferred to Newcastle.

Central Hunter Local Area Command crime manager, Detective Inspector John Zdrilic, said initial investigations revealed the pool was adequately fenced.

A group of families and around eight children were using the pool throughout the day. Det Insp Zdrilic said it's believed because of the number of children using the pool, the fence door was wedged open.

“Being a volunteer lifesaver myself, this (incident) demonstrates the importance of knowing CPR,” Detective Inspector Zdrilic said. “Or at the very least have a CPR chart around the pool.

“This could have been such a tragic story and I don’t think there would be anyone in the community who wouldn't be affected by it. While it might be inconvenient you might need to open and close the gate, that’s what they’re there for.”

He urged local residents to keep an eye out for each other in the water this summer.