STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Staten Island family is mourning the loss of 6-year-old Thomas Sanchez, a non-verbal child with autism from Stapleton who tragically drowned Sunday morning after wandering to a nearby body of water.

Thomas had recently celebrated his birthday on July 18 and graduated kindergarten from PS 57 the Hubert H. Humphrey Elementary School in Clifton. Known for his bright smile and love of water, Thomas found joy in baths, baby pools, and playful routines with his family, his mother Christina Cardona, 37, told the Advance/SILive.com.

Emergency response

On Sunday, just before 9 a.m., police responded to a report of a missing child near Broad Street and Tompkins Avenue, a spokesperson for the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information said.

Upon arrival, officers were

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