Sister saves drowning preschool brother

A 12-year-old Australian girl has been praised for saving her preschool brother from drowning in a pool in Sydney.

The girl pulled her four-year-old sibling to safety about 8pm on Sunday night after noticing him floating face down in the water, NRMA CareFlight said.

The girl gave first aid, which she had only learned at school last week, turning her brother on his side into the recovery position.

He coughed and immediately started to breathe.

Paramedics and the NRMA CareFlight trauma team arrived at the Province Street home in Abbotsbury soon after.

The boy was taken by ambulance to Westmead Children's Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

The NRMA CareFlight doctor said the girl's swift action had prevented a possible tragedy while the family, from nearby Bonnyrigg, had been cooling off at a friend's home.

"She showed the life-saving value of learning first aid, and did really well," the CareFlight doctor said.

- AAP