‘Life-savers’: South Yorkshire Police hail kids who kept missing four-year-old with autism safe

The child, who has autism, disappeared from his mum while out playing on his bike in Rawmarsh, Rotherham on 16 July.

Maddison Haywood, Gracie Lee Hirst, Jayden Andrews and Taylor Sharp spotted the boy riding along a road and quickly moved him to safety before calling police. The youngsters, aged between 12 and 14 and from the Swinton and Wath areas of the town, cared for the child until officers arrived to take him home to his relieved parents.

Temporary chief superintendent Steve Chapman of South Yorkshire Police said: “I cannot thank these young people enough for their quick thinking and response. They saw an extremely vulnerable child, on his own, and instinctively moved him to safety and called for help.

“Each of them, despite being shaken by the incident, acted in an extremely responsible manner. They made sure he was kept safe, and they kept him calm until help arrived.”

Superintendent Chapman awarded each of the youngsters a district commander’s commendation, as well as some sweet treats, at Main Road police station for their quick-thinking, maturity and the care and compassion they showed the boy during the incident.He added: “It’s stories like these that make me proud to serve communities here in Rotherham. It was my absolute pleasure to meet these four, thank them in person and present them with a commendation.”Chief inspector Christ Foster of South Yorkshire Police also described the youngsters as “life-savers”.