A three-year-old boy has been flown to hospital after he was found floating on the surface of a hot pool.

The Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Okauia Springs, near Matamata, at 2pm yesterday.

The Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Okauia Springs yesterday afternoon.

Pilot Todd Dunham says once the boy was removed from the pools, he started breathing on this own again.

'St John Paramedics checked over the child before being flown to Waikato hospital for further treatment.

'Due to the ingestion of water the helicopter was used to fly the child directly to Waikato hospital rather than drive by road ambulance.”