Lead: On Dec. 25, 2025, Volusia County deputies located a 6-year-old nonverbal boy with autism standing in chest-deep water in a pond in Deltona, Florida. A sheriff’s helicopter crew helped guide officers to the child, identified by police as Coco; he was cold but unharmed and returned to his family. The rescue came fewer than 18 months after a similar August 2024 episode that prompted swimming lessons and safety discussions with the family. Officials reiterated guidance for layered safeguards for children with autism after the incident.
Key Takeaways
- The boy, identified by deputies as Coco, was found in a Deltona pond on Dec. 25, 2025; he is nonverbal and known to be drawn to water.
- Responders reported the child standing in chest-deep water; video released by the sheriff’s office shows a helicopter crew locating him before ground teams reached the scene.
- Deputies said Coco was cold but medically unharmed after the rescue and was reunited with his family the same day.
- The episode occurred fewer than 18 months after an Aug. 2024 escape when Coco, then 5, was carried to shore by Deputy Wes Brough after clinging to a branch.
- Following the 2024 incident, the family enrolled Coco in swimming lessons and discussed additional precautions such as door alarms and GPS tracking with deputies.
- Local authorities continue to urge multiple layers of protection—secure fencing, door alarms and wearable trackers—for children with autism or other special needs.
Background
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), especially those who are nonverbal or have strong sensory interests, can be at higher risk of elopement—wandering away from safe environments. Public-safety agencies and autism advocacy groups have documented that water poses a particular hazard because many children with ASD are inexplicably attracted to it. In Volusia County, the August 2024 episode drew attention to these risks when a 5-year-old boy was found clinging to a branch in a neighborhood pond and rescued by a deputy.
After that 2024 rescue, local law enforcement advised the family on layered safety measures, and the child began swimming lessons. Authorities often recommend combining environmental modifications (fencing, door alarms) with behavioral supports and technology (GPS devices) to reduce elopement risk. Emergency response in suburban Florida frequently involves coordination between air assets and ground units for searches over water and low-visibility terrain.
Main Event
On Christmas Day, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office units responded to reports of a missing child in a Deltona neighborhood. Helicopter personnel conducted aerial searches and located the boy standing in the pond; their position and imagery directed deputies on the ground to his location. Officers entered the water and brought the child to shore, where first responders checked him for injuries and signs of hypothermia.
The sheriff’s office released video showing crews scanning the area before the helicopter sighted the child. Officials described the boy as cold but otherwise unharmed; he was reunited with family at the scene. The agency identified the child publicly by the name used by deputies: Coco. Local media noted his prior August 2024 escape and the subsequent steps the family had taken, including swimming lessons.
Volusia County authorities emphasized the coordinated nature of the response: aerial search to identify the child’s position, ground units to perform the extraction, and medical screening to ensure his condition. The office also reiterated community-safety messaging for families of children with special needs. No criminal activity or foul play has been reported in connection with the incident.
Analysis & Implications
This incident underlines persistent vulnerabilities for families caring for children with ASD who elope. Even after interventions—swimming lessons and safety consultations—elopement can recur, indicating that no single measure fully eliminates risk. The repeated episodes in this family show the importance of redundancy: physical barriers, alarms, supervision strategies and wearable location devices working together.
From a public-safety perspective, the rescue highlights how air support can materially shorten search times and reduce exposure risk when a child is near water. Helicopter imagery allowed responders to pinpoint the child quickly; that capability likely reduced the time the child was in cold water. Agencies in semi-rural and suburban counties increasingly rely on such interoperability between aviation units and patrols for missing-person incidents.
Policy implications extend to community-level planning and resource allocation. Local governments and school districts that serve families of children with autism might consider subsidized fencing programs, community education on elopement prevention, and partnerships with nonprofits to provide GPS devices or training. Insurance, privacy and cost barriers can limit uptake of tracking technology, making public programs or grants a potential lever for reducing future rescues.
Comparison & Data
| Incident | Date | Age | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earlier escape | Aug. 2024 | 5 | Deltona pond | Clung to branch; rescued by Deputy Wes Brough; unharmed |
| Christmas Day rescue | Dec. 25, 2025 | 6 | Deltona pond | Found in chest-deep water; helicopter guided rescue; unharmed |
The two documented incidents involve the same neighborhood and similar water hazards; both rescues ended without physical injuries according to official statements. The comparison underscores that swimming lessons and prior safety consultations, while valuable, did not prevent a second event; instead, they may have reduced risk of drowning. Emergency-response assets—especially aerial observation—played a decisive role in locating the child more quickly the second time.
Reactions & Quotes
Volusia County officials framed the outcome as relief for the family and the community while renewing prevention messaging.
“Most importantly, we’re just glad he’s back home safe.”
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (official statement)
The sheriff’s office also provided video and a written release describing the search and rescue steps; local broadcasters amplified safety recommendations to families of children with autism.
“Authorities urge multiple layers of protection, including door alarms, secure fencing, and wearable tracking devices.”
CBS12 (local news affiliate summarizing official guidance)
Disability-advocacy and child-safety groups typically echo these recommendations and stress community supports that help families implement them. Experts note that public awareness following high-profile rescues can prompt faster adoption of preventive measures.
Unconfirmed
- It has not been publicly confirmed whether the family had a GPS tracker in use at the time of the Dec. 25 incident.
- Details on how the child exited the home during the most recent episode—whether through a door, gate or other means—have not been disclosed by authorities.
- Any additional medical follow-up beyond the initial on-scene clearance has not been detailed in official statements.
Bottom Line
The Dec. 25 rescue ended without physical harm to the 6-year-old, but it highlights ongoing elopement risks for some children with autism even after prior interventions. The incident reinforces public-safety guidance favoring layered, redundant protections and stronger community supports for families.
For policymakers and service providers, the case suggests opportunities to expand access to practical prevention tools—such as subsidized door alarms or location devices—and to strengthen coordination between families, schools and first responders. For families, the key takeaway is the need for multiple safeguards rather than reliance on any single measure.
Sources
- CBS News — news outlet report summarizing sheriff’s office release and local coverage
- Volusia County Sheriff’s Office — official county law enforcement website and public statements