A heartbreaking search for a missing child in Port St. Lucie ended in tragedy Monday night after a 5-year-old boy was found in a nearby body of water. The young child, identified as Zam Tuang, had been reported missing from his home earlier in the evening, prompting an urgent search by police, emergency responders, and concerned community members.
According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of SW Crean Terrace after family members reported that the child had disappeared. Zam, who was autistic, had wandered away from the home. Family members searched throughout the house and the surrounding neighborhood but were unable to find him, leading them to call 911 for help.
Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage from the home, which showed the young boy leaving through the garage around 7:15 p.m. Police said the video captured Zam walking eastbound before eventually moving out of camera view. The footage helped guide officers as they quickly organized a large search effort across the neighborhood.
Police launched an extensive search operation involving patrol officers, K-9 units, and the department’s drone team. First responders worked urgently alongside community members, searching streets, yards, and nearby areas for more than two hours in hopes of locating the missing child safely.
Tragically, at around 9:45 p.m., officers discovered Zam in a nearby body of water near SW Juliet Street and SW Hampshire Lane. Officers immediately began performing CPR until crews from St. Lucie County Fire Rescue arrived and rushed the child to a nearby hospital. Despite the determined lifesaving efforts by first responders and medical staff, Zam was later pronounced dead.
Authorities say the incident appears to be a tragic accident, and investigators have found no evidence of foul play. The devastating loss has deeply affected the local community, where many residents have expressed sympathy and support for Zam’s grieving family. Officials also reminded the public that children with autism face a higher risk of wandering, and incidents often involve water. In areas with lakes, ponds, and canals, they stress the importance of awareness, supervision, and safety measures to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
