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Family mourns 4-year-old’s drowning, calls for park safety: 'Let Waylon leave a legacy'

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Published  November 18, 2024 11:17pm EST
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FOX 35 Orlando

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.

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - 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.

Now the family is hoping to prevent other families from going through the tragedy they are going through.

"Waylon was just such a sweet little boy. He loved his dad, his cousins, just a big loss for our family," said Katie Olinger.

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Waylon was at the playground in Central Park when, within the blink of an eye, the child went missing.

Nine hours later, after rescue teams tirelessly searched for him, a dive team found the little boy dead in the pond near the playground.

Waylon Childs

Waylon’s aunt is grateful to the strangers who desperately tried to find him.

"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."

RELATED: Kids with autism more likely to become victims of drowning than neurotypical children, experts say

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.  

"This year in Florida alone, 95 children have drowned, and 26 of them were autistic," said Jennifer Cicia, a specialist in autism disorders at the University of Central Florida. "That’s over 25% of drowning victims compared to just 3% of children diagnosed with the disorder statewide."  

Now, the family is calling for a fence to be put up around the playground in the park.

"Let's get a fence around this park," Olinger said. "Let's move on to the next one and the next one. Let’s get this covered and let Waylon leave a legacy behind and not be forgotten."

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.

The family has established a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses, other expenses, and to help advocate for fencing around park waters.

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