Bodycam: Fla. Police Officer Rescues Autistic Girl Dangerously Close to Ocean

May 28, 2025

A non-verbal autistic girl who didn't know how to swim was wandering on rocks behind a beachfront hotel near a construction site when she was found and rescued by a Clearwater police officer.

Joe Vince

Florida police rescued a missing 8-year-old autistic girl who was wandering near a construction site by the beach earlier this month.

Clearwater police responded to a report that a non-verbal child with autism had gone missing, the department stated in a social media post that included body camera footage of the rescue. A search ensued, and officers found the girl sitting on rocks behind a hotel at a beachfront work site, precariously close to the crashing ocean waves.

"The situation was especially urgent, as the young girl did not know how to swim. … Thankfully, he was able to safely bring her out of the dangerous area and reunite her with her family," the department stated.

The girl was treated by medics at the scene following the rescue, according to WFTV-TV. Officials praised the officer who found her.

"We’re grateful for his quick response and dedication to keeping our community safe," the department stated.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.