POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A terrifying ordeal for a family visiting from the United Kingdom ended in relief Friday morning after a massive search effort located a missing 7-year-old boy safe along the shoreline of Lake Marion.
The incident unfolded just after 10 a.m. near Lake Marion Creek Road and Pine Street. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), the child—who is non-verbal and has autism—was playing in the backyard of a residence when he slipped out through an unlocked gate.
Deputies say the boy and his family were visiting from London, leaving the child completely unfamiliar with the unfamiliar and potentially dangerous terrain…