A 13-year-old soccer player drowned in Lynnwood Manor following a game on Saturday afternoon, ER24 said.

Spokesperson Werner Vermaak said the youngster from Mamelodi went into a public pool in the Pretoria east area with his team mates following the game.

"A church group that was near the pool at the time of the incident heard the commotion and went over to investigate," he said.

Members from the church group found the boy in the water and rescued him, but when he was assessed they found that he had no pulse and was not breathing.

The church group initiated CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] and contacted emergency services.

"Paramedics from ER24, SRQ and Lifemed paramedics joined forces to gain some sign of life in the little boy. Unfortunately after almost an hour of active resuscitation paramedics declared the boy dead at the scene," Vermaak said.

The matter was handed over to the South African Police Services for investigation.

Inspector Klaas van der Kooi said an inquest docket has been opened and that the boy's family was yet to be informed about the tragedy.