Autistic child saved from Wildwood Lake

A Southampton Town police officer pulled an autistic 5-year-old out of Wildwood Lake in Northampton Sunday morning, authorities said.

Officer Kevin Gwinn was investigating a missing child report about 10:30 a.m. on Birch Court in Northampton when the boy’s grandmother said he might have jumped a fence in the backyard.

Of three trails in the yard, Mr. Gwinn picked the one leading to the water because he thought that might attract a child, according to Southampton Police Capt. Anthony Tenaglia. That trail led to an embankment about 25 feet above the lake, where Mr. Gwinn spotted the child’s shoes. He then noticed the brightly colored T-shirt on the child, who was in the water, Mr. Tenaglia said.

The officer ran down the embankment and into the water, which was up to his waist, and found the child almost completely submerged, Mr. Tenaglia said. Mr. Gwinn pulled the child out of the water unharmed.

The officer was concerned because there is a section of the otherwise shallow lake that takes a deep drop, according to the captain.

There have been several drownings at Wildwood Lake over the years. The child’s name was not released by police.

TIM GANNON