Art swimmer Anita Alvarez was rescued from the bottom of a pool by her coach, Andrea Fuentes, after fainting during the World Cup in Budapest.

Fuentes jumped in to save the American, who sank to the bottom of the pool after her appearance in Wednesday's final.

- It was really scary.

I had to jump in because the lifeguards did not, says Fuentes to Marca.

Fuentes dived to the bottom and pulled Alvarez to the surface before she was helped to take her ashore.

- I was afraid that I saw that she was not breathing, but now she is fine.

The American team says in a statement that Alvarez is feeling well under the circumstances.

The reason she fainted should be that she took out too much during her number.

- It felt like an hour.

I said it was not right, I shouted at the lifeguards to jump into the water, but they did not hear me or they did not understand what I was saying.

She did not breathe so I swam as fast as I could, as if it were an Olympic final, says Fuentez who has four medals from the Olympics.

Alvarez has not yet closed the door to compete in Friday's team competition.