LONDON, Ohio — Police in London, Ohio, released body-camera video Wednesday of two officers rescuing a missing 5-year-old boy who was found lying on his back in a creek.
In a release issued on social media, London police said officers Dylan Fout and Denise Dye were on patrol Tuesday evening on the south side of the city when Fout noticed a young boy walking on the sidewalk alone.
"That's when we flipped around, and he just disappeared we had no clue where he went,” Fout said.
As officers began searching in the area, a 911 call was dispatched of a missing 5-year-old boy with autism. When the officers heard the description of the boy, they knew that it was the one they had seen along West Center Street.
"First thing I noticed was there's a bridge and underneath there, there's some water. I looked at her and said I mean, I don't know where else he could have gone. I mean he's gotta be under the bridge somewhere or something,” Fout said.
Soon after, officers Fout and Dye located the boy in the nearby creek. Fout entered the creek, which police said was 3 feet deep, and pulled the child to safety.
The boy was conscious when Fout pulled him out of the 40-degree water.
Police said soon after he was out, the child began vomiting. Medics were called to the scene and the boy was taken to Madison Health for observation. He has since been released from the hospital.
Officer Fout said it was thanks to his training that he knew to go towards the water.
"We've had training in the past that autistic children like to go towards water. I don't know the science behind that or anything, but I just know that's something that they enjoy,” Fout said.
While many are now pointing to the officer’s quick thinking as the hero of the story, Fout takes none of the credit.
"I don't know how he got in the water. I imagine he went face first, and for him to be able to roll over, to get on his back, he gave himself time, he gave us time to be able to find him. So honestly, in this whole story, I think he saved his own life,” Fout said.
"We would like to recognize Ofc. Fout’s excellent patrol observations and quick actions in saving the child from imminent danger," the department said in the release.