On a quiet Sunday afternoon in September, a family’s worst nightmare unfolded in the suburban neighborhood of Sullivans Court in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Alex Calvillo and Savannah Ybarra were preparing brunch for family and friends when they noticed something terribly wrong—their three-year-old son, Aziel, who has autism, was missing. What followed was a race against time that ended with a heart-stopping rescue, thanks to Officer Evan Myers from the Fort Wayne Police Department.
According to the Fort Wayne Police Department's press release, the emergency call came in just after 2:20 p.m. on September 22, 2024. Realizing that their son had wandered off, the parents immediately dialed 911. Panic quickly set in when they discovered a friend had forgotten to lock the top latch of the door, allowing Aziel to slip out unnoticed.
Aziel, who is drawn to water, vanished without a trace. His parents and neighbors frantically searched the house and surrounding areas. Savannah, who is pregnant, recounted the immense stress she felt: "I was asking the neighbors, but no one had seen him... I knew something was seriously wrong," she told WPTA. With each passing second, the danger grew.
Officer Myers, responding to the call, was aware that missing children with autism are often attracted to water, which increased the urgency of the search. Following faint cries, Myers sprinted toward a nearby home where the pool gate had been left open. There, floating in the water, was Aziel, unresponsive.
Without hesitation, Myers acted. Fox News reported that body camera footage shows him running through the open gate, pulling the toddler from the pool, and calling for backup. "I found him... he’s in the pool," Myers radioed with urgency and relief.
For a tense moment, the world seemed to pause. Then, Aziel began to breathe again, though he was disoriented. "Are you OK, buddy?" Myers asked gently as the toddler clung to life. Thanks to Myers' quick response, Aziel was saved from what could have been a devastating outcome.
Aziel’s parents were overwhelmed with gratitude. "I want to personally thank him deeply for just being able to find my son," Savannah told WPTA. "I can’t describe how grateful I am," added Alex. Reflecting on the incident, the family has since vowed to take additional safety precautions, including installing a secure fence to prevent such occurrences in the future. They also plan to add locks and alarms on doors to ensure Aziel remains safe. The family urges other parents of children with autism to take extra steps to secure their homes, especially if their child has a fascination with water.
According to the National Autism Association, children with autism are 160 times more likely to die from drowning because they are often attracted to water but do not know how to swim. Experts recommend having multiple layers of safety measures in place, including installing fences around pools, using splash alarms, and having special locks on doors to prevent children from wandering. Survival swim lessons are also highly encouraged, as they can teach children how to roll over and get their faces out of the water, a potentially lifesaving skill.
Officer Myers’ heroic actions emphasize the vital role of first responders in moments of crisis. His quick thinking and determination to save a life are now forever etched in the hearts of Aziel’s family, who are fortunate to have their son safe and sound.
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