MARSHFIELD, MASS. (WHDH) - A 12-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after nearly drowning at a Marshfield beach Tuesday, fire officials said.

Officials responding to Green Harbor Beach at 1:30 p.m. found the boy unconscious, according to the Marshfield Fire Department.

Former State Police Superintendent Marian McGovern was one of a few neighbors on hand that worked to keep the boy alive until paramedics arrived.

“They were taking this little boy out of the water and a girl had already started CPR on him and was doing an unbelievable job,” McGovern recalled. “I told her when she gets tired I was going to take over. I told her who I was. We had other people too who jumped in to help and no one missed a beat with this young boy.”

One of the women who helped preform the life-saving technique actually teaches CPR classes.

Robin Deininger watched the scene unfold from her porch and called 911.

“People were giving CPR, just normal people who were on the beach and happened to see it,” she said. “Other people were standing around praying, I mean you know, sending all kinds of good, positive vibes.”

Deininger said the boy’s mother was distraught by his side.

McGovern said lifeguards from down the beach ran to help as well, a defibrillator in tow.

The boy was taken to South Shore Hospital and later transported to Boston Children’s Hospital.

His condition was not immediately released.

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