Thank goodness!
It’s every parent’s single worst nightmare – their child has gone missing. But for the frantic parents of a little girl from the Gold Coast in Australia, thankfully there was a happy ending.
Five-year old Jocelyn Lewis, who has a medical condition, went missing after running away from home. What followed was an Amber Alert and an extensive search involving police, the Gold Coast Suns AFL team and concerned community members desperate to help.
And as a result of a united community pulling together, Jocelyn was found almost 24 hours later hungry, dehydrated and with some cuts on her hands and feet – but otherwise unharmed and in good spirits.
“She was joking with paramedics and telling them all about her adventure,” QAS Gold Coast acting senior operations supervisor Justin Payne said.
Community rallies together to find missing five-year-old girl. @Bianca_Stone https://t.co/KKNxMZBXvz #7News https://t.co/zGqMntEK4R
— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) July 25, 2016
Amazingly, Jocelyn was found a mere five minutes from her house by searchers Kylie Maudsley and Bree Johnson.
“Kylie just decided to call out ‘Jocelyn’ and she just popped up out of the grass and said ‘Hi, come and get me’,” Bree told Seven News.
“It was an amazing moment,” Kylie added. “I just didn't expect it at all.”
And of course her distraught parents were over the moon to be reunited with their little girl.
I think these smiles are the best thing I've ever captured on camera. Great outcome. #7News pic.twitter.com/TrigrpefkF
— Matthew Howard (@MatthewamHoward) July 25, 2016
“I was getting very concerned it was going to go the other way,” said Jocelyn’s dad Steve.
“Even though I am buggered that is why I came out here, to thank the community for everything they have done, that is how she found. Just goes to show when you rally together, how well we can do.”
We are SO relieved this story had a happy ending. Our hearts go out to Jocelyn’s parents, and we commend the community for helping bring Jocelyn home to them.
