Hero Story: Hillsborough Deputy Saves Autistic Boy, Pulls Him From Retention Pond

APOLLO BEACH, FL - A Hillsborough County deputy is being hailed as a hero for rescuing a 9-year-old boy with autism from a retention pond near the boy’s home. Deputy Efrain Taveras, 52, found the boy, who doesn’t know how to swim, struggling in the pond and jumped in — in full uniform — to help him.

Zachary ran away from his home in Apollo Beach Monday evening and, as he’s done in the past, ran to the nearby pond. Zachary's father, Shawn, says kids with autism are drawn to water.

Taveras has responded to several calls with Zachary before but says this time he says it was different.

Taveras, a 12-year department veteran, was on one side of the pond and the boy’s father was on the other when Zachary started struggling.

“At one point, he went under. That's when I pulled off my belt and went in and he went down a second time. That's when I was able to grab a hold of him and pull him out,” Taveras told News 10.

Zachary’s family says they consider the deputy a hero.

"I put the uniform on and do what I need to do." Taveras said.

Read the full News 10 story here.

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