Thanks Danny for responding. You seemed to have had the same terrifying experience in water that I did. I was told that I landed on my back and was kicking out toward the center of the lake, partially under water, when my Dad (and luckily our little Toy Fox Terrier) heard and saw me.
This little hero ran from the beach, down the long peer and jumped into the water with my Dad, right after him.
It took several years before I would go in any type of water. To this day I have severe claustrophobia due to what happened to me.