It took just an instant, and 3-year-old Melissa Lucero was under water.

The youngster nearly drowned when she fell into the pool Aug. 12 at Kennedy Ridge apartment complex, 10700 E. Dartmouth Ave. A trio of good Samaritans came to her aid, pulling the girl from the water and performing CPR until paramedics arrived.

"There are not enough thank-yous in the world we can give these people," said Melissa's father, Arthur Lucero. "May God bless them forever. We love 'em. They gave us a second chance with our daughter."

Melissa met her rescuers Monday at a party at Anthony's Pizza, a block from the pool. A little shy from the attention, Melissa warmed up to give hugs and kisses to the people who saved her.

"The blink of an eye'

"I'm certain that had these people not become involved, the outcome would not have been as good," said Denver Health paramedic Tom Cribley, who arrived at the pool less than 5 minutes after receiving a 911 call. "They were instrumental in saving her."

About 50 people were at the pool on that warm Sunday evening. Her parents turned away for an instant - "the blink of an eye," her father said - and she had disappeared.

It was anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes before someone noticed Melissa and yelled. No one's sure exactly how long she was in the water, but neighbor James Duplex quickly pulled her to safety. Rico Vitela, who was swimming, leaped out of the pool to
perform CPR.

"She was gone," Vitela said. "She was like a rag doll."

His girlfriend, Dayna Moritz-Bates, helped him with chest compressions. Her own 17-year-old son died in a drowning accident four years ago.

"I just had to help her'

"I couldn't be there to save my own son, but I could help someone else's child," she said. "I didn't think about my situation. I just had to help her."

After several minutes, paramedics arrived and took over. Still, Melissa was unresponsive and was transported to Children's Hospital in critical condition.

But once at the hospital, she made a tremendous recovery, Cribley said. By the time her parents arrived, she was alert and crying, scared but unharmed.

The accident underscores the importance of safety around pools, Cribley said. Another 3-year-old nearly drowned just a week later at an Aurora apartment pool. He, too, was fine after a brief stay in the hospital.

"We don't get lots of calls like this, but fortunately this one came out very well," he said.

Melissa's parents presented the rescuers with roses Monday as Melissa eagerly ate pizza. They now hope to get her back to the pool so she won't be afraid of the water.

"We're checking into swimming lessons," Arthur Lucero said.

"Yes," said her mother, Maria. "No more chances."