LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Deputies in Lafayette County say they were able to find a missing 8-year-old boy thanks to the Project Lifesaver program.
On Saturday, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to 135 NE Orchid Rd in response to a missing child.
They were told that the boy was 8 years old and was recently enrolled in the Project Lifesaver program.
Within 16 minutes of their arrival, deputies were able to find the child in a wooded area. He was uninjured and was taken to his mother.
Deputies say the Sheriff's Office was able to obtain the equipment for Project Lifesaver through money raised from Paddle for Autism with the University of Florida assisting this project.
They say the equipment, training and the child being enrolled in Project Lifesaver led to a much faster time in locating the child and returning him with his family, saying what could've taken hours was done in minutes.
The Project Lifesaver Program is intended for children or adults with conditions that can cause them to wander such as Autism, Dementia, Down Syndrome and others.
If you have a child or loved one that may be interested in the Project Lifesaver Program please contact the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office at 386-294-1222 and ask to speak to Sgt. Geoff Condy.
You can find out more about Project Lifesaver here.
