6-Year-Old With Autism Drowns After Wandering Away From Bouncy Castle at Family Reunion

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A Michigan family is mourning the loss of a young boy who drowned during a celebratory family reunion that quickly turned tragic. The young boy, who had autism, wandered away from the family during the party. Some time later, he was found in the river. Drowning deaths aren’t uncommon among kids with autism. Although the boy drowned by accident, his death is an important reminder about water safety, especially in summer. 

At 7:30 p.m. July 26, 2025, officers from the Michigan Police Department responded to two calls at Belle Isle Park near Detroit. They were for a “missing 6-year-old and then a medical emergency,” police shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Their preliminary investigation found that a family reunion was being celebrated at Belle Island Shelter #2. The shelter is near a river that feeds into Lake Tacoma. 

According to police, multiple children were playing in a bouncy castle. “A 6-year-old male child from Detroit left the bouncing castle and wandered away from the other kids and the family reunion,” the post noted. When the family noticed the boy was missing, they began looking for him.

The family was unable to find the boy, prompting them to call 911. They told police that the missing boy, who has not been named, has autism. 

Patrol Activity:
07/26 at 7:20 pm
Location:
Belle Isle Park – Central Ave. and Muse Rd.
Synopsis:
The Detroit Regional Communication Center received calls of a missing six year old and then a medical emergency.

***Preliminary Investigation***
A family reunion was taking place… pic.twitter.com/G2pacgXbPO

— MSP Second District (@mspmetrodet) July 27, 2025

After about 30 minutes of looking, the boy was found in the river by another child and an adult not far from where they had been in Shelter #2. “Conservation officers and DNR park rangers were first on scene along with civilians. CPR and rescuing breathing began promptly,” police explained in their post on X.

A trooper and the rangers began to administer lifesaving measures, including CPR and using an AED defibrillator. When the Detroit Fire Department arrived, its responders “took over” administering aid. The boy was taken to Children’s Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Our heart goes out to this little boy’s family and also the first responders and community members on scene who did everything they could to try and save this child’s life,” police First Lieutenant Mike Shaw shared in the post.

“Unfortunately, we have seen several drownings in Michigan this year,” he added. “A drowning can happen quickly and quietly and is often not how it is portrayed on TV. Keep a close eye on your kids and people who can’t swim, wear life jackets when boating and if you are a poor swimmer, and be careful with alcohol consumption.”