PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Neighbors and police credited quick action and instinct Saturday morning after a 5-year-old boy on the autism spectrum wandered away from his home and entered a local retention pond.
Minutes mattered
According to body-camera footage and interviews with those on the scene, a neighbor driving with her sister, Melinda Dryer, saw the child cross the road and decided to stop. Dryer said the boy gave a blank stare when he walked in front of their car and, moved by intuition, she and others exited their vehicles and rushed toward the water.
“When he walked in front of the car, he just gave us like a blank stare, and something in my gut just didn’t feel right.”
After roughly 10 minutes of effort, residents guided the boy out of the retention pond and into safety. Police arriving at the scene described the child as nonverbal and later noted he was covered in fire ants but was physically unhurt.
Vulnerable populations and drowning risk
Authorities emphasized how quickly a drowning can occur and pointed to the particular risks faced by children with autism. Alissa Magrum, executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, told reporters that individuals with autism are at a far greater risk around water.
“We know that individuals with autism are 160 times more likely than their neurotypical peers to drown,”
Magrum said children on the spectrum are often drawn to water, creating unique dangers and prompting targeted education and prevention efforts for caregivers and communities.
Community response and advice
Good Samaritans at the scene described the rescue as frightening and fast-moving. Dryer said she could not imagine the burden on parents had the outcome been different, and expressed relief that the boy was reunited with his family.
Police issued a reminder to residents: if you see a potentially dangerous situation, trust your instincts and take appropriate action. That guidance mirrored the actions of those who intervened Saturday.
- Subject: 5-year-old autistic, nonverbal boy
- Location: Retention pond, Port St. Lucie (Saturday morning)
- Rescue time: About 10 minutes
- Condition: Covered in fire ants; physically unhurt
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 5 years old |
| Communication | Nonverbal |
| Rescue time | Approximately 10 minutes |
| Injuries | Fire ant bites; otherwise physically unhurt |
What this means for Port St. Lucie residents
The incident underscores two overlapping concerns for local families and the broader community: first, the need for vigilance around retention ponds and other bodies of water; second, the special considerations for children with autism who may be drawn to water and unable to communicate effectively.
Officials and advocacy groups encourage caregivers to adopt layered safety measures — such as fencing, alarms, close supervision, and swimming instruction when appropriate — and to participate in community outreach that educates neighbors about risks and response. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance continues to advise targeted education for families and those who live near water.
For now, those who helped at the scene are being credited with preventing what might have been a tragedy. Police said the community response and the decision of those who found the child to act on their instincts were decisive in keeping the child safe.
Residents with concerns about local water safety or who want information about resources for families of children with autism can contact Port St. Lucie police or the National Drowning Prevention Alliance for guidance.
