Three kilometers of anxiety on the coast: autistic child gets lost on the beach, police find him

Castel Volturno—A family's day at the beach in Castel Volturno, on the Caserta coast, turned into a waking nightmare, fortunately with a happy ending. A five-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder suddenly disappeared from his parents' sight while at a local beach resort.

The alarm and the uninterrupted searches

Noticing the child's absence, the family immediately raised the alarm, prompting the intervention of officers from the Castel Volturno Police Station. Upon arriving on the scene, officers gathered initial information from the parents and testimonies from beachgoers to reconstruct the child's possible movements and delimit the search area.

The finding three kilometers away

After about an hour of nonstop patrols and sweeps along the shoreline, the breakthrough came: officers managed to locate the child a full three kilometers from where he had last been seen. Despite the distance traveled, the child was in good physical condition and completely unaware of the danger and the crowd around him.

The hug with the father

The child was returned to his father's care, where he was able to hug him again, easing the intense tension he had experienced. This incident highlights the efficiency of the law enforcement response and serves as a warning about how quickly young children can wander off in crowded situations.

Tips for parents:

To ensure the safety of children — especially in the presence of neurodivergence that can reduce the perception of danger or stimulate the tendency to wander — it is essential to adopt some precautions:

Identification bracelet: Have the child wear a waterproof bracelet engraved with the parents' phone number and the language they speak. If the child has special needs, it's helpful to display it discreetly.

Visual reference point: As soon as they arrive, show the child easily recognizable elements (the color of the umbrella, the lifeguard tower, a kiosk) and explain to them to refer to them if they no longer see their parents.

Beach arrival photo: Take a photo of your child as soon as they arrive to have an updated image of their clothing and swimsuit, which you can immediately show to rescuers and lifeguards if necessary.

Alert the beach staff: In case of special needs (such as autism spectrum disorder), inform the lifeguard or beach staff of the child's presence, so as to have an informed surveillance network.

Immediate action in case of child wandering off: If you lose sight of your child, immediately contact 112 and the beach staff to block the beach exits and immediately begin a search along the shoreline.