Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the exact time certain parts of the incident reportedly happened

MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – A Menasha police officer helped to locate and save a missing child with autism from falling off of a bridge on Wednesday.

The City of Menasha Police Department was made aware that a child with autism was missing at or around 8:17 a.m. on August 3. Authorities say that the child left his home in the 300 block of Winnebago Avenue.

At 8:20 a.m. dispatch received a call from a woman who stated that she saw a child running towards the Racine Street Bridge on Keyes Street.

Within minutes, officers arrived at the Racine Street Bridge, which is currently under construction, and saw the child ‘actively trying to crawl off the bridge.’

According to a Menasha Police Department Facebook post, Lieutenant Adam Schulz found the boy standing on the edge of a beam over the water.

Schulz was able to de-escalate the boy and carry him off of the bridge, safely reuniting the boy with his father. Menasha Police also stated that the boy’s family is not to blame and the parents continue to work with experts to provide the best situation for their son.

We also completely agree with the original post that the family is NOT to blame for this incident. They have taken countless measures to try and avoid a situation like this and they continue to work with experts to provide the best care and environment for their son.

Mensha Police Department

Thanks to fast-acting officers, a responsive dispatch team, and an alert community, a potentially devasting situation was diverted.