LAKELAND, Fla.- Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputies successfully located a missing 14-year-old boy with non-verbal autism late Saturday evening after he wandered off during a visit to the Se7en Wetlands Trail in Lakeland.
The incident began when the boy and his father enjoyed time together at the trail off West Carter Road. According to reports from the PCSO, the father briefly stopped to photograph a rare bird. During this moment, his son wandered away in an unspecified direction.
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When the man realized his son was missing, the father immediately searched the area. However, as darkness fell, he contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for assistance.
PCSO deputies responded swiftly to the call and arrived on the scene at approximately 9:45 PM. Recognizing the urgency and the boy’s non-verbal condition, authorities deployed multiple resources, including the Drone Unit, K-9 Unit, and Aviation Unit, to aid in the search. A perimeter was quickly established around the wetlands property.
The search continued for over an hour and a half.
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At approximately 11:09 PM, the Aviation Unit spotted the missing teenager running along a canal within the wetlands. Pilots could also see ‘potentially dangerous’ wildlife near the boy. To ensure the boy’s safety, the helicopter landed in a nearby clearing, effectively preventing a possible encounter with the wildlife.
Ground units were then directed to the boy’s location. At approximately 11:31 PM, deputies on the ground successfully made contact with the teenager and took him safely into their custody.
Authorities reported that the boy was unharmed and did not sustain any injuries during his time away. He was subsequently reunited with his relieved father.
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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office commended the swift and coordinated efforts of all units involved in the successful search and rescue operation.
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