By Dorissa White

Click here for the latest information on this story.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — A firefighter’s quick response saved a child from drowning at a neighborhood swimming pool Monday.

Brandon Hullinger, a firefighter with the Kansas City Missouri Fire Department, says the opportunity to jump into action came while he was off duty.

“You don’t expect something like this unless you work for the fire department,” Hullinger said.

A KCFD spokesman said a 7-year-old child was underwater for an undetermined amount of time at a neighborhood swimming pool on North Overland Drive at 5:26 p.m. Monday.

The KCFD firefighter was enjoying his day off when he heard an emergency call from his neighborhood swimming pool.

“I heard ‘Can anyone do CPR?’ and I thought, ‘Did I just hear that right?'” he said. “I happened to see a small child, what looked like a small child, half submerged in water.”

His instincts took control and he took action.

“I immediately started CPR and asked the mother what had happened. She described that he had fallen to the ground,” Hullinger said.

With the assistance of a security guard, they stabilized the boy until first responders arrived.

“Then the little child started to excrete some fluid,” Hullinger said.

According to the firefighter, a rescue team began administering oxygen to him. The child was then taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he is expected to make a full recovery.

Battalion Commander Michael Hopkins expressed his pride in Hullinger and the security officer.

“The department is very proud of the actions he took last night,” Hopkins said. “You don’t expect to do something like that when you’re not working, but you have the opportunity to do it and your instincts kick in.”

Hopkins says the department would be happy to work with the security officer should she ever decide to pursue a career with KCFD.

“We would love to have her if she wants to make a difference. We are always looking for good people,” Hopkins said.

Please note: This content is subject to a strict local market embargo. If you live in the same market as the author of this article, you are not allowed to use it on any platform.