Baby girl fights for life after being found 'pale, soft and cold' in fishpond - as heroic neighbour who rushed to help infant relives his desperate attempt to save her

An 11-month-old girl is fighting for life after her family found her lying unresponsive in a fishpond.

Emergency services were called to a home in Springvale, 22km southeast of Melbourne, at 9pm on Sunday.

But neighbours Phong Nguyen, 44, and Thu Le, 30, leaped into action before the officers arrived, the Herald Sun reported.

An 11-month-old girl is fighting for life after she was found unresponsive in a fishpond (stock image)

Mr Nguyen performed CPR on the girl for four minutes until police and paramedics took over.

Ms Le called emergency services while Mr Nguyen performed tried to resuscitate the baby. 

The infant was immediately hooked up to oxygen, and remains in Monash Children's Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit. 

'She couldn't breathe. She was on the floor … she was pale, soft and cold,' Mr Nguyen said.

'I tried to clear her airways and get the water out, but there was none coming out so I did CPR.'

It is unclear how long the little girl was in the pond, but Ms Le said the child's family were in hysterics when they found her.  

The infant was immediately hooked up to oxygen, and remains in Monash Children's Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit fighting for her life

Ms Le added her husband is very distressed by the entire ordeal.

Mr Nguyen was at the front of their home smoking a cigarette when he heard the screams and rushed to the family's aid. 

Ms Le said: 'My feels so bad because he told me he wished he has heard earlier and could have saved her.' 

She also described the little girl as a good baby who is sweet, friendly and always has a smile on her face. 

The family had been celebrating another child's birthday at the time.