A young child missing for more than five hours in Perth’s southern suburbs has been found alive and well, with the news delivered with a thumbs up.
Eight-year-old Claudia was found hiding under a big piece of wood in the backyard of her Collett Way home in Leeming, police revealed.
“I believe she’s healthy, happy and she’s being reunited with mum now,” Inspector Steve Scott said about 1.30pm Monday.
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Police had searched the property several times and are now trying to work out if Claudia was there the whole time.
“We went through the back quite a few times but the backyard is reasonably large,” Scott said.
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“There are four kids that live there, there is lots and lots of piles of wood and things in there. It would have been a challenging yard to clear.
“Having said that, there’s no guarantee she hasn’t been hiding somewhere else and come back.”
The good news was delivered by another officer, with Scott interrupted while updating reporters about the resources being poured into the search.
A Leeming child has been found alive and well at her home in Perth’s south following a search Monday morning. Credit: 7NEWS
The girl was last seen leaving her home on Collett Way in Leeming when she departed for school about 8am on Monday.
It is understood she never made it there, triggering the “full-scale search and rescue operation”.
“Concerns are held for her welfare and anyone with information regarding her whereabouts should call police immediately,” WA Police said in a statement just after 11.30am.
The search included SES and mounted police, with an emergency alert also sent to residents in the area.
Speaking from a command centre at the Leeming Heights Community Hall, Scott said police were “extremely relieved we found her”.
“The community support was quite overwhelming. Lots and lots of support, which is so greatly appreciated in incidents like this,” Scott said.
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