An 8-year-old girl is brain dead and fighting for her life after her instructor threw her into a pool where she was left drowning during a swimming lesson on Friday in Chongqing, Sichuan Province.

The girl identified as Moumou was reluctant to go in the water, and after she refused, the instructor forced her in by physically heaving her into the pool.

But neither the instructor or the on-duty lifeguards took any action as the girl struggled in the water for several minutes, according to Sina Weibo user Ma, who claimed to be a witness at the pool that day.

Ma said that he had assumed the girl was safe, given that she was surrounded by her instructor and the fitness club pool's lifeguards.

Other Web users, who also said that they were at the pool that day, posted similar accounts, saying that the girl appeared to be in serious condition by the time she was finally pulled out of the water.

The hospital where the girl was taken for treatment said that she suffered major brain damage and organ failure from the drowning incident and her chance of survival is very low.

The case remains under investigation, according to an employee of the fitness club, who refused to provide further details.

Chongqing Morning Post