WATCH: Moment rescuers find missing 5-year-old child in swampy area

Girl Found
Moment rescuers find a missing girl in Tampa swamp (Photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)

TAMPA, FL (WWAY) — Video from body cameras worn by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida shows the moments deputies rescued a five-year-old girl with autism from a wooded, swampy area Monday evening.

The HCSO’s Aviation Unit was called in to help deputies find the child who walked away from her home.

Using a thermal imaging camera, they spotted the child walking through the wetlands. In the footage, you can see the child approaching a body of water. The aviation unit guided deputies on the ground to her location, where she was found safe and without injury.

“Their quick action saved the day, turning a potential tragedy into a hopeful reunion,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Their dedication shows what service and protection are all about here at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.”

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