Deputy thanks God after rescuing missing 5-year-old autistic boy from pond

DELTONA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida sheriff’s deputy ran through the woods, removed his bulletproof vest and ran toward a pond after hearing the screams of a missing 5-year-old autistic boy.

Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputy Wes Brough picked up the boy and the boy wrapped his arms tightly around Brough’s neck as they trudged back to dry land Tuesday night in Deltona, which is near Daytona Beach on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

“I was so thankful to God for putting me in that position, and for allowing that kid to be afloat and breathing well when we got there,” Brough said. “It’s all glory to God for putting me in the right place at the right time.”

Deputies had responded to a call about a missing child around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The father told deputies the child had escaped through a second-floor door, setting off an alarm, according to an account of the incident posted on the sheriff’s Facebook page.

The family and neighbors began to search for him. Someone called 911.

Brough and several other officers headed to a nearby pond after hearing the boy was drawn to water, the report said.

At approximately 7:48 p.m., Brough heard the boy’s voice and saw him holding a log in the water.

Sheriff’s officials said the boy’s family had taken several steps to secure the home, including installing an alarm on the door. That’s what alerted them that the boy had left the house.

Brough credited the training they received, including autism awareness training, with making him ready to handle any situation. The rescue was captured on the officer’s body camera.

“I have three kids, one of them is five,” Brough said. “So, holding him so tightly, it felt like it was my own child holding me.”

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