Mum warns about using inflatable air loungers after daughter nearly drowns suffocates in pool
A mother has spoken out to warn parents, after her daughter nearly suffocated while using an air lounger.
Mum-of-two Anthea Chester, from Melbourne, purchased one of the popular inflatables as a Christmas present for her 12-year-old daughter Hollie.
But when Ms Chester's daughter used the lounger she was given as a present in the pool on Christmas Day, the lining split suddenly.
Terrifying: A Melbourne mum Anthea Chester (left) has warned others about using air loungers after her 12-year-old daughter Hollie (right) almost suffocated
'Hollie sat on the edge on the pool and was just sitting on it, she didn't throw herself on the lounger or anything,' Ms Chester told Daily Mail Australia.
'The colored lining split WITHOUT WARNING, engulfing her body whilst the blow up part shot upwards, pushing her under the water,' the mum explained in a Facebook post.
'She was left engulfed by the fabric which was clinging to her face and entire body like shrink wrap. She had no idea which way was up or down, or where the edge of the pool was.'
'The lining split WITHOUT WARNING': Hollie had received the air lounger for Christmas and was using it in the pool when it suddenly broke
Mum's warning: Hollie almost drowned as the fabric stuck to her face and she couldn't breathe
Warning: Ms Chester posted about the product on Facebook to warn others after the incident
Ms Chester was watching her daughter closely, and was quickly able to get the lounger off her with the help of a family friend.
'It was like it sucked her in, the fabric lining split and got engulfed in the middle,' the mum explained.
'Luckily she was in the shallow part of the pool and could stand, but she was saying "I can’t breathe and can’t get it off, I can’t see anything."'
Close call: Julie Kosy took to Facebook after her dad went through a similar experience
Terrifying: Another woman, Julie Kosy, said her father (pictured) nearly suffocated after using a lounger on water
After the terrifying experience, the Melbourne woman put a post on Facebook to warn others, and emailed the company about what had happened.
'I'm a paramedic and I would hate for anyone to drown because of these loungers,' she explained.
Ms Chester isn't the only one to have experienced an issue while using an air lounger on water.
Safe now: Thankfully Hollie is safe and well, but Ms Chester worried about others who might use air loungers on water
Newcastle woman Julie Kosy posted on Facebook that her father had a similar experience.
'Do NOT use on water!!' the woman wrote, 'My Dad almost drowned on Christmas Day.'