A sheriff’s aviation unit used thermal imaging to guide deputies to a missing five-year-old girl who had gone missing in a swamp near Tampa, Florida.
The girl, who has autism, wandered away from her home on Monday and was quickly reported missing, Hillsborough County sheriff Chad Chronister said.
The thermal camera captured images of the little girl walking through ankle-deep water.
“Hey, I think I got her in the woods,” a deputy in the helicopter told deputies on the ground.
“She might be able to hear her name if you call her. She might be about 80 feet in front of you.”
🚨𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞🚨
On February 26, 2024, at 5:10 p.m., #teamHCSO's Aviation Unit was called to assist deputies in locating a five-year-old autistic child who had wandered away from home in Tampa.
In under an hour, our… pic.twitter.com/YvPjJW5pQj— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) February 27, 2024
A body camera recording showed the moment the deputies made contact with the child.
A deputy called her name and held up his arms. The little girl also held her arms up and walked towards him. He quickly picked the child up.
“Let’s get you out of the water. I’ll get you to everyone,” he told her as they walked back through the woods.
“Their quick action saved the day, turning a potential tragedy into a hopeful reunion,” the sheriff said.
“Their dedication shows what service and protection are all about here at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.”
