Each child is unique, with own talents and problems. However, for children with specific needs, extra care becomes necessary. When a 5-year-old girl with autism went missing, her family in Florida lived every parent’s fear. Following the finding, the family immediately sought assistance from neighbors, but no one had seen her.
Recognizing the urgency, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and its Aviation Unit responded promptly.”In situations like this, every second counts, and it’s always rewarding to see this quick response for our deputies and such a positive outcome,” says Sheriff Chad Chronister, after the HCSO published the rescue clip with the girl’s parents’ consent.
The footage shows the moment deputies discovered the autistic youngster in a swampy area, heading toward a body of water.With gentle words, the responders persuaded the terrified girl to join them, securing her safety by carrying her through the difficult terrain. “Let’s get you out of the water, okay?” one of the officers asks, adding, “You were walking quite a bit, sweetheart.”An officer carried an autistic girl through the woods and back to safety.
‘We were looking for you, dear,’ the deputy stated, placing the girl in the back of the truck to be checked. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and the girl was restored to her family, according to the Daily Mail.”Their quick action saved the day, turning potential tragedy into a hopeful reunion,” Chad said. “Their dedication shows what service and protection are all about here at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office,” he said in a statement.
Chad said that working with persons with autism has numerous challenges, including their attraction to water and their difficulty communicating. Chat mentioned that there is a service called “Safety Net” that assists families with autistic children or elderly family members who tend to wander.”We see it time after time, where we can recover individuals who subscribe, and there are grant programs out there that help cover the subscriptions,”
Chronister said, adding that they have it on their aviation units and some of their police cars to help them recover missing people as quickly as possible, according to WFLA. Children with unique needs, such as the missing autistic girl, frequently struggle to communicate, interact socially, and understand their surroundings. Their state makes them more susceptible to unforeseen events.