The frantic search for a missing autistic boy who nearly drowned in a Florida pond has a happy ending thanks to a hero helper.
The 5-year-old boy ran away from his Deltona home Tuesday night around 7:30 p.m., police said. An alarm was activated, alerting his parents that he was no longer inside the house.
They immediately went to look for the boy while neighbors called 911. Volusia Sheriff’s Office deputies searched the immediate area with a focus on bodies of water as the boy was attracted to water. officials saying.
Nearly 20 minutes into the search, Officer Wes Brough found the boy in a pond a few blocks from his home, heard a voice and then saw the boy clinging to a log.
The officer jumped into the pond to grab the boy, and Brough can be seen holding the child in a video.
Deputy Wes Brough is pictured rescuing the boy from the pond.
The sheriff is seen jumping into the pond and running towards the young man.
Authorities said the boy was He was medically discharged and returned to his family.
The young man’s family told police they have several measures in place to secure the house, including an alarm on the door.
Brough has received autism awareness training to prepare for a variety of calls involving people with autism, including missing children, police said.
“Good job by everyone involved in this call,” officials said.