‘Courageous actions’: Teen brother saves sister with autism who went missing near lake
Deputies are commending a 17-year-old for his “courageous actions” after he saved his little sister when she ended up in a lake.
By: Alexa Herrera
PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A teen boy jumped into action to save his 5-year-old sister with autism after she went missing near a Pasco County lake.
Pasco County deputies received a call regarding the missing little girl at 3:30 p.m. on Monday in the area of Lake Lisa Park in Port Richey.
They raced to the lake after people told them the girl was seen in the water. They jumped a fence and found the girl’s 17-year-old brother already in the water with her, according to a Facebook post.
The teen was in the lake and had the girl in a safe location on a branch while he was in the water.
Video from the sheriff’s office shows the deputy running towards the two, climbing over the fence, and in the water, helping the deputy save the girl. The teen was able to carry her out safely.
“The Pasco Sheriff’s Office commends the 17-year-old brother for his courageous actions,” the post read.
Officials said missing persons calls are one of the most common calls for service. The sheriff’s office has a Safety Net Tracking program for those prone to wandering.
SafetyNet was created to help agencies “bring loved ones with cognitive conditions home when they go missing.” When an individual is reported missing, SafetyNet is notified and activates their device. It emits a continuous radio frequency signal for rescue teams to track.
Officials encourage people to report the missing person immediately to increase the chance of a safe return. Family and friends don’t have to wait 24 hours for someone to be considered missing, the website states.
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