PILBARA, AUSTRALIA — It's good news down under after a three-year-old girl was found safe and sound after going missing in Western Australia's flood-hit Pilbara region.
On Wednesday at around 2:30 p.m, three-year-old Matilda, accompanied by her pet Jack Russell, wandered off from her home in Noreena Downs Homestead, an area that has recently been flooded with heavy rain.
The Western Australia Police Force said the floods lead to a number of creeks surrounding the property to be full of water.
After the water level receded a bit, Matilda was able to make her way across one of these creeks.
However, when it started to rain again, the creek quickly filled, thus trapping her and her dog.
Around 4 p.m the alarm was raised that Matilda was missing.
Police said they were throwing every resource they had to locate her.
Three helicopters searched from the skies, whilst mounted police teamed with State Emergency Service searched from the ground.
Matilda, with her faithful dog at her side, was alone for nearly 24 hours without shelter before being spotted wandering around 3.5km south of the homestead.
She was rescued and happily reunited with her family.
Pilbara's police superintendent, Kim Massam praised the girl's dog who, "stayed with her that whole time."