Atlanta, GA – A 5-year-old boy with autism was safely rescued after wandering away from a playground at Peachtree Ridge Park on November 15.

Officers from the Central Precinct quickly launched a search when the boy went missing. Approximately 40 minutes in, Officer Hugley noticed a fence around a retention pond had been lifted. Trusting his instincts, he crawled under the fence and checked a nearby sewer drain.

“I called out to the boy and heard something back,” Officer Hugley said.

Officer Nunez joined the effort, crawling into the sewer and locating the boy several hundred feet inside. Meanwhile, Lt. Huggins found the nearest drain cover and guided the officers to the boy’s exact location.

The child was removed from the sewer unharmed. Authorities credited the swift coordination and vigilance of the officers for the successful rescue.

One officer noted the role of Project Lifesaver, a national electronic tracking program that assists in locating individuals with cognitive disorders who may become lost or endangered.

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