Autistic boy, 5, who went missing on Christmas Day found dead in pond

A YOUNG autistic boy who went missing on Christmas Day has tragically been found dead in a pond.

Beau Belson, 5, was last seen near his grandmother’s house on Christmas Day after he had been playing in the yard with other family members.

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But tragically, he was found under the ice in a pond just 50 feet away, Michigan State Police said.

More than 1,000 volunteers desperately searched for young Beau on Christmas night after his family realized he had disappeared, according to NBC News.

Some searched through the night, with police even using two helicopters in the recovery attempt.

Lt. Commander Kevin Sweeney delivered the heartbreaking news to volunteers on Thursday morning.

“Unfortunately, he was found in a pond and he is no longer with us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family," said Lt. Commander Sweeney said, according to ABC News.

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Brittany Knapp told a local NBC affiliate it “meant a lot” seeing so many people join the search for Beau.

“It’s like seeing how many people walked hand-in-hand … trying to find him?” she said.

“It means a lot.”