A teenager has been arrested after a two-year-old boy was pulled from a lake unresponsive in Hampshire.

The young child is in a critical condition in hospital after being pulled from the water at Swanwick Lake, a nature reserve near Fareham, on Sunday.

Officers are appealing for information and would like to hear from anyone who was in the area between 7.45pm and 8.30pm as they investigate how the boy came to be in the water.

The force said that an 18-year-old man from Southampton, who officers said is known to the boy, has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Police were called at 8.21pm on Sunday and attended the scene with the ambulance service and fire crews – who got the two-year-old out of the water.

The child was taken to Southampton General Hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

Detective Inspector Toby Elcock said: “We know this incident will come as a shock to the local community, but we ask people to please not speculate as we follow up all lines of inquiry to establish how the boy came to be in the water.

“We are keeping an open mind as to what has happened, and we are keen to speak to anyone in the area to help us build up a picture of the circumstances.

“If you were in the area at this time, please call us. Any information, no matter how small, could prove significant, so please do get in touch.”

People are asked to contact officers on 101 quoting 44210210811 or through charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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