Rescue of 4-Year-Old From Pond Seen On Hillsborough Deputies' Video

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Body-worn camera footage from two Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies has documented the harrowing moments when they pulled a 4-year-old boy with autism from a pond early Tuesday morning.

Just before 10:30 a.m. on July 11, deputies were called to Valleyridge Court after receiving a 911 call regarding a young child seen running across the street and into a nearby pond.

Two deputies arrived at the scene and immediately began searching the water. After thoroughly looking through the thick shrubs at the edge of the pond, they located the boy, who was being kept afloat by cattails, and pulled him to safety.

“I shudder to think of the outcome if not for the tenacity and efforts of these deputies," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We will now work with the Department of Children and Families to determine if negligence played a role in this young boy's disappearance.”

Deputies discovered that the boy was also nonverbal and was not able to cry out for help. The boy had no major injuries and was reunited with his family.