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Heroic officer rescues autistic child from drowning in backyard pool
The mother of a three-year-old nonverbal child with autism in Indiana praised the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) after an officer rescued her son from a swimming pool near their home.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - An Indiana police officer is being called a hero after rescuing a toddler with autism who was drowning in a backyard swimming pool.
Alex Calvillo and Savannah Ybarra told local reporters they were preparing for a brunch outing with family and friends when they noticed the three-year-old son, Aziel, was not in the house, but the garage door was open.
They called the Fort Wayne Police Department and told officers that their son lies to wonder, and enjoys water and swimming.
A screenshot of the officer's bodycam video showed the child stuck in the pool before being rescued. (Credit: Fort Wayne Police Department via Storyful)
"After I reminded them that he’s autistic and likes water … two minutes after that they ended up finding him," Calvillo said.
Officers released bodycam footage of the rescue. It showed Officer Evan Myers running to the backyard after hearing a child crying.
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He then found the toddler lying on his back in the garden pool before pulling him from the water.
"I have no other words than to be extremely grateful for God guiding this amazing officer to my baby in time," Ybarra posted on Facebook.