Search For Missing MD Boy With Autism Ends In Late-Night Water Rescue

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A boy with autism was rescued from the water in Prince George's County following a late-night search after his parents reported him missing.

The boy wandered away from his Upper Marlboro home around 11 p.m., prompting his parents to call the Prince George's County Police Department, authorities said in a news release. Police did not specify on what day the incident occurred.

According to authorities, special operations officers launched a search for the little boy with the help of the Prince George's County Police Department Aviation Section.

The agency's helicopter and flight crew canvassed the area where the boy was last seen. According to police, the flight crew scoured the area for several minutes using the FLIR thermal imaging system before they spotted a person on the banks of a large body of water who appeared to have their legs submerged.

"Any time they say it’s a child, and they told us it’s an autistic child, and we know from our training and experience one of the characteristics is they’re drawn to water, so we know there is definite urgency," helicopter spotter Cpl. Chris Elrod told Fox Baltimore.

According to police, the flight crew notified officers on the ground and guided them to the child.

Police officers were able to reach the child, who was cold but unharmed, authorities said.

The temperature during the rescue was around 40 degrees, according to police.

Fatmata Zine, the child's mother, told Fox Baltimore the responding officers did a "wonderful job" during the rescue.

"I was very terrified I was not gonna see my son again. I was crying and just praying," she said. "They did a very wonderful job, and in the end, I was very happy."