Family mourns 4-year-old’s drowning
Friends and family gathered Monday in Ormond Beach to remember Waylon Childs, a 4-year-old boy with autism who was reported missing Sunday and later found dead overnight in a nearby pond.
Police said Waylon, who was nonverbal, wandered off while visiting a park with his father and siblings and drowned.
Just one day after Waylon went missing, his aunt is speaking out about her nephew. She said little “Way-Way” was always smiling and loved his family.
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Waylon was at the playground in Central Park when, within the blink of an eye, the child went missing.
“Seeing people get off work and come here and search for him and just want to help,” Oliinger explained, “it was beautiful, and we appreciate it.”
Experts note that children on the autism spectrum are at a significantly higher risk of drowning compared to their neurotypical peers, largely due to a tendency to wander.
Now, the family is calling for a fence to be put up around the playground in the park.
Drowning is silent and takes less than 30 seconds. Whether your child has disabilities or not, parents who attended Waylon’s vigil are urging other parents to put their children in a swimming program so they know what to do.
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