Dramatic images show the moment missing autistic boy is rescued from river

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 10:18, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 10:18, 14 July 2026 Heartwarming photos showed the moment police found a young boy after he had been missing for several hours. New Zealand Police received a call from the boy's mother after he disappeared from their home in Glendene, west Auckland, about 12.30pm on Friday. The little boy has autism and was seen wandering near an area with water.  'A neighbour had seen the boy walking towards an area of bush which leads towards an estuary,' Acting Inspector Nick Salter from Waitematā West Police said. 'Time became critical, given high tide was coming in a few hours, so we had Eagle (the police helicopter unit) overhead searching the water.' After police had quickly launched the air and ground search of the property, the boy was found within minutes at the water's edge. Air searchers were able to direct a ground crew to the boy's location, where he had fallen over in the mangroves.  'Staff made their way through the mangroves to the boy. He was wet and muddy but fortunately he was safe and not in need of medical assistance,' Insp Salter said. A little boy (above) was found by police near mangroves on a property in Glendene, west Auckland The boy (pictured in the water) had gone missing hours earlier and was seen wandering near water An air crew was able to spot the boy (right) within minutes of searching Officers helped the boy to his feet and carried him out of the water. 'Anyone who has kids will know how terrifying this would have been, and we are fortunate that this could be safely resolved so quickly,' Insp Salter said. 'It's a great result by all our staff who responded on Friday.'