Video has captured the heart-stopping moment a teenage boy rescued his missing little sister from a lake in Florida.
The dramatic scenes unfolded this week when police received an emergency call at around 3:30pm about a missing five-year-old girl.
The child, who is autistic and nonverbal, had vanished near a lake, as reported by Need To Know.
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By the time officers arrived, the girl’s 17-year-old brother had already plunged into the lake and managed to keep her safe on a branch while he clung to the water below.
Bodycam footage shows deputies sprinting across the park after locals pointed out where the siblings had been spotted.
One officer can be seen vaulting a fence before racing to the water’s edge, where he finds the boy desperately trying to free his little sister from tree branches.
In the video, taken by a Pasco Sheriff’s Office officer, the teen can be heard shouting: “She’s awake and talking.”
In a tense few moments, the boy carefully lifts his sister free as she giggles nervously, clinging to smaller branches.
Finally, he cradles her in his arms and cries out: “I got her! I got her! Thank God I’m standing on soil!”
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office later praised the teenager for his bravery in a statement, saying: “The Pasco Sheriff’s Office commends the 17-year-old brother for his courageous actions.”
The incident took place at Lake Lisa Park in Port Richey, Florida, on 6 October.
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