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5-Year-Old with Autism Drowns After Wandering From Home in Port St. Lucie
Police say the incident appears to be accidental, with no evidence of foul play.
Published on Mar. 10, 2026
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A 5-year-old boy with autism named Zam Tuang drowned on Monday night in Port St. Lucie, Florida after wandering away from his home. Police responded to a missing person report and found the child's body in a nearby body of water around 9:45 p.m. Authorities say the drowning appears to be accidental, with no signs of foul play.
Why it matters
Incidents of children with autism wandering from home and drowning are tragically common, highlighting the need for better safety measures and support for families of children with special needs. This tragedy also comes just days after another young child drowned in the nearby city of Greenacres.
The details
According to police, Zam Tuang, a 5-year-old boy with autism, wandered away from his home in the 700 block of Southwest Crean Terrace around 7:15 p.m. on Monday. Family members searched for the child before calling 911. Police arrived and searched the area, eventually locating Zam's body in a body of water at the intersection of Southwest Juliet and Southwest Hampshire Lane around 9:45 p.m. The child was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead around 11 p.m. Authorities say the drowning appears to be accidental, with no evidence of foul play.
- Zam Tuang wandered from his home around 7:15 p.m. on Monday, March 10, 2026.
- Police located Zam's body in a body of water around 9:45 p.m. on Monday, March 10, 2026.
- Zam was pronounced dead at the hospital around 11 p.m. on Monday, March 10, 2026.
The players
Zam Tuang
A 5-year-old boy with autism who drowned after wandering from his home in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Port St. Lucie Police Department
The local law enforcement agency that responded to the missing person report and investigated the drowning incident.
What’s next
The Port St. Lucie Police Department is holding a press conference at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2026 to provide more details on the incident.
The takeaway
This tragic incident highlights the need for greater safety measures and support for families with children who have autism or other special needs, to prevent similar heartbreaking accidents from occurring in the future.
