LONDON, Ohio — A London, Ohio police officer is being commended for his heroic efforts after rescuing a missing 5-year-old boy from a creek earlier this week.
Officer Dylan Fout said he was training Officer Denise Dye Tuesday evening on the south side of the city when they spotted a young boy walking along the road.
"That's when we flipped around and he just disappeared. We had no clue where he went,” Fout said.
Then a 911 call came in from the boy’s mom, stating her nephew had left the door open and her 5-year-old autistic son wandered away. When the officers heard the description of the boy, they knew that it was the one they had just 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.
They quickly located the boy in the water. Fout entered the creek, which police said was three feet deep, and pulled the child to safety. The boy was conscious when Fout pulled him out of the 40-degree water.
The medic arrived shortly after, followed by the boy’s mom.
Fout said it’s 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.