A Florida deputy heroically rescued a missing 5-year-old autistic boy from a pond in Deltona on Tuesday night, after the child escaped his home and was found clinging to a log, bodycam footage reveals.

The dramatic rescue, undertaken by Deputy Wes Brough of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, underscores the importance of specialized training in handling cases involving individuals with autism. The boy, attracted to water, managed to escape his home through a second-story door despite security measures, triggering a swift response from authorities. Thanks to the Autism Awareness Training received by the deputies, Brough was able to locate and safely retrieve the boy from the pond, averting a potential tragedy.

The incident began around 7:30 p.m. when the boy's father called the Volusia County Sheriff's Office to report that his son was missing. The family had secured the house with several measures, including a door alarm, but the child managed to slip out through a second-story door. The activated alarm signaled to the family that the boy had left the house.

Deputies were quickly informed that the boy had a strong attraction to water, which added urgency to the search operation. With this critical information, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office dispatched a team of officers, including Deputy Wes Brough, to look for the boy. The search began in areas with water features near the family's home.

Within a short time, Deputy Brough spotted the boy in a pond, holding onto a log. The body camera footage from the scene shows Brough's immediate response as he jumped into the pond to rescue the child. The footage captured Brough wading through knee-deep water to reach the boy, who was above water and breathing.

Account of the rescue shows that the training these officers received played a crucial role in the successful outcome. The Autism Awareness Training that the officers had undergone was specifically tailored to help them manage situations involving individuals with autism, including scenarios where children go missing. This training equipped Deputy Brough with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle the situation effectively.

After reaching the boy, Deputy Brough carried him back to dry land. Once on land, Brough, in a moment of relief and gratitude, thanked God for the boy being above water and breathing fine. Medical personnel were on the scene shortly after, and the boy was medically cleared with no significant injuries.

The boy was then safely returned to his family, who expressed immense relief and gratitude to the officers. The quick and coordinated response of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and the specialized training of its deputies were pivotal factors in the positive resolution of the incident.

Sheriff's office officials emphasized the importance of the training program in preparing deputies for a wide variety of calls involving individuals with autism. They noted that such preparedness can make a critical difference, especially in emergencies like the one involving the young boy in Deltona.

In statements following the rescue, the sheriff's office highlighted their continued commitment to specialized training programs. They stressed the importance of equipping officers with the tools needed to understand and respond to the unique needs of individuals with autism, thereby improving outcomes in both routine and emergency situations.

The boy's rescue serves as a reminder of the vigilance required when caring for children with special needs and the effectiveness of well-executed emergency response protocols. Thanks to the quick-thinking actions and specialized training of Deputy Wes Brough and his colleagues, a potentially tragic situation was averted, ensuring the safety and well-being of the child involved.