Boy in critical condition after being found in Airdrie, Alta., pond

RCMP say a four-year-old boy is in hospital in Calgary after he was found in a pond in the city of Airdrie on Tuesday evening.

The child was reported missing from a home in the King's Heights neighbourhood at 6:15 p.m.

Police say the boy wandered from home and his parents were searching for him.

Shortly afterward, police say, the call came in about a child in medical distress at a pond.

RCMP say bystanders removed the boy from the water and administered first-aid until EMS arrived.

He is listed in critical condition.

"RCMP has received exceptional community co-operation in this investigation and are kindly asking everyone to be mindful of the privacy of the family during this difficult time," said a Tuesday news release.

Sabrina Weqar lives along the water and saw the young boy being pulled from the water.

"We went out to the balcony and my eyesight isn't quite good but my husband is like, 'Oh my god, they just pulled a body from the water,'" she said.

"We couldn't see if it was a child or an adult, then we heard it was a child, so then ever since that happened ... I couldn't sleep last night.

"It has probably affected the whole neighbourhood."

Weqar has three-, eight- and 12-year-old kids and says she is keeping a close eye on them and holding them closer.

"All I'm hoping is he makes it and that people watch out for their kids because you never know -- in a minute or two, your life changes forever."