Teenager rescued at Hamilton Pool Preserve

A dramatic water rescue took place Friday morning at Hamilton Pool. It involved a 17-year-old male who at last report was still clinging to life.

It was a desperate scene at the entrance to Hamilton Pool.

A fight for life as Paramedics struggled to revive a 17-year-old after he was hoisted out of the remote area by STAR Flight. "It's difficult, especially at any age, but seeing a young male with no pulse, it's definitely like you said we are never going to give up," said Lake Travis Battalion Chief Jeremy Petersma.

The teen was with friends and family at the pool Friday morning when witnesses say he slipped under and did not come back up. Michelle Morales who was at the pool with her family said the teen was underwater for several minutes. "From my estimates, 15 to 20 minutes."

A frantic search took place and the teen was located about 20 feet down.

Everyone there, according to Morales tried to help. "Strong swimmers got together they were diving down looking for him, they tried to coordinate their efforts, they were getting all the spots, no one gave up.. Another lady was gracious enough, she pulled all the other people who were watching together to form a prayer circle, for the swimmer and his family and all the people that were helping."

At the time of the incident a doctor and a nurse were at the pool. They are both being credited with helping to initially revive the teenager. "Bystander CPR is what save peoples lives even if you call 911, we may have a three or four or five minute window for the first apparatus that can do CPR, qualified, to arrive in scene. During that time frame, it's valuable minutes that are ticking away," said Bryan Fitzpatrick with Austin/ Travis County EMS.

When the teenager was revived again by paramedics, he was placed back into STAR Flight.

Moments later he was in the air.. en-route to UMC Brackeridge, alive but reportedly with a very weak pulse.