An eight-year-old girl missing for over 20 hours on Random Island in Newfoundland and Labrador has been found safe, police have confirmed.
RCMP Sgt. Stephen Senuita said on Saturday that police got word the girl had been located at about 1 p.m. local time.
“This is exactly the outcome we were hoping for.”
Senuita said he was not at liberty to comment on the girl’s condition, but he confirmed she has since been reunited with her family.
Clarenville RCMP had continued the search through the night after the girl went missing while playing in a wooded area Friday evening.
Police had closed the area to all but local traffic and essential personnel as the search continued into Saturday.
Seven ground search-and-rescue groups, provincial Fire and Emergency services and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre provided aerial search support.
As well, the Canadian Coast Guard conducted searches along the shoreline.
Mabel Tilley is team co-ordinator for the Central Avalon Ground Search and Rescue, one of seven rescue teams associated with the search.
Tilley said the “very challenging” search involved over 90 volunteers who worked around the clock to find the girl.
She confirmed that paramedics checked the child over after she was found, but aside from being tired from having walked all night, she’s in good shape.
“She wanted to have a campfire, she wanted a shower and she was a little bit thirsty,” Tilley said.
FULL STORY: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/missing-girl-random-island-1.7549131
