8-year-old girl missing on Random Island, N.L., has been found safe
Police had closed the island to all but local traffic after girl went missing late Friday
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.
She wanted to have a campfire, she wanted a shower and she was a little bit thirsty.- Mabel Tilley, Central Avalon Ground Search and Rescue
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.
Search teams, community members praised
Tilley credited the success of the search effort to determination and education, citing search-and-rescue volunteer training on lost-person behaviour.
She said teams from Bonavista, Glovertown, Burin, Holyrood and St. John's all joined the Central Avalon and Clarenville search-and-rescue teams.
Senuita said it was an "incredible" effort on the part of the volunteers, from community members checking their properties and security cameras to members of the ground search-and-rescue crews and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
He also praised community members who came together to support the search effort.
"I think I've been offered several meals just on the way from the command centre to this interview."
The town's Central United Church became the hub of search-and-rescue efforts.
Rev. Elsie Squires said when she heard about the search, she wanted to open up the church's facilities to volunteers. Once open, she said many people brought baskets of food.
"All of Random Island responded," Squires said. "When there is a time like this, the people naturally pull together, and so we're very thankful about that."
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With files from Abby Cole and Keira Mahoney