Incredible moment missing autistic boy who has a fascination with water is spotted by a police helicopter 100m out to sea - sparking miracle rescue mission
Cameras have captured the amazing moment a young boy 'fascinated with water' was saved from the ocean after going missing.
The youngster was plucked to safety after he was reported missing by his frantic mother.
The boy unexpectedly left his home in South Auckland on January 2, sparking an emergency call from his mother, who was understandably fearing the worst.
He walked a reported few hundred metres from his home into the ocean.
'Please help, my son is missing... the garage door was left open. He autism,' the woman can be heard saying to the emergency dispatch caller, according to 1NEWS.
The rescue helicopter soon spotted the young boy (pictured above in red) and saved him from the strong currents
Within minutes of the call, a rescue helicopter was seen hovering above the beach near Kauri Point Reserve, with the child soon spotted 100m out to sea.
Thankfully he was standing in shallow water, with police on the ground able to save the boy before he drowned.
In the video, a police officer can be seen wading out to the boy, who was then brought back to dry land.
It proved to be a very lucky escape for the child, who had a 'fascination' with water, but was unable to swim.
Police later confirmed the child was uninjured and was reunited with his mother at their Wattle Downs home.
Inspector Rod Honan, the relieving area commander for Counties Manukau Central police, said the boy’s autism meant he wasn't able to effectively communicate with people at the scene before entering the ocean.
Inspector Honan paid tribute to the officers who promptly responded to the emergency, who all helped prevent what could have been a tragic outcome.
He also thanked the people in the reserve who stopped and spoke to the officers.
A policeman in full uniform (pictured above) waded out and retrieved the boy after he wandered into the sea
At the end of the clip, the rescue team in the air and on the ground (pictured above) are acknowledged for their poise under pressure