Swimming champion, 12, regains consciousness after near drowning

A young swimming champion has regained consciousness after nearly drowning at an annual North District swimming competition on Sunday where he had just set a new record.

But he is still partly paralysed, school authorities say.

Yau Tsz-lam, 12, who had entered four events in the 10 to 12 age bracket, was responding to visitors, said Chan Siu-hung, principal of Sheung Shui Wai Chow Public School, which Yau left this year. "When we called him, he was able to turn and look at us," said Chan, who visited Yau at Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin, yesterday with another two teachers. "We believe the treatment has been going well."

After setting a new record in the competition's 200-metre breaststroke, winning the 4x50-metre relay and reaching the final of the 50-metre butterfly, Yau leapt into a training pool to warm up for the 100-metre breaststroke and lost consciousness in the water.

He was listed as still being in a critical condition in the intensive care unit last night.

The hospital refused to disclose the cause of his condition or the progress of the treatment, citing rules in protecting patients' privacy.