Vicky Hooker is "still winding down" from possibly the most difficult Christmas she's likely to have - waking up to find one of her children missing.
Police found Tabitha Mason safe and sound in the late morning, but Mrs Hooker spent the rest of the afternoon at hospital.
Tabitha was back at home wearing her new Christmas outfit yesterday and, after sleeping till 11am, was looking forward to eating more candy canes from the tree.
The nine-year-old, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and a mental age of six, went missing from her Collingwood St, Raumanga home about 8pm on Christmas Eve.
She was found by an off-duty Department of Conservation worker about 10.30am on Christmas Day, on a bush track off Wilson Ave near the Western Hills. The only physical evidence of her ordeal was scratches on her legs.
Mrs Hooker is Tabitha's great-aunt, but has raised her since she was six-months-old. She and her husband have four older children.
Mrs Hooker had no sleep on Christmas Eve, and the mood in the house early Christmas morning was very subdued as the family feared for Tabitha's safety.
"You know how most kids can't wait to open their presents on Christmas morning?" Mrs Hooker said. "Well, presents were the last thing on these kids' minds. I think we were all just in shock."
Search and rescue crews worked overnight on Christmas Eve searching for the little girl. Two police officers who were rostered to finish their shift at 2am carried on until 5am, and were back on deck at 7am.
Finally, Mrs Hooker got the phone call she had been waiting 14 hours for - Tabitha was safe and well. Police took Mrs and Mr Hooker to reunite with Tabitha near where she had been found.
"It was amazing ... I just gave her a huge hug. I've got no idea how she got to where she did, crossing the big roads. And it would have been cold overnight and she wasn't wearing any shoes, and just a T-shirt and skirt."
Tabitha was taken straight to the hospital where she spent the afternoon being checked over. The trio came home after Tabitha was given a clean bill of health.
She had a bath and then "she never stopped eating", Mrs Hooker said.
The family then got stuck into their Christmas presents.
Tabitha received a blue top, black leggings, blue Crocs shoes and "heaps of toys", sister Rebecca said.
But despite a happy ending, it still took a long time to get to sleep that night.
"I didn't get to sleep until about midnight, I just had things going over and over in my mind. I'm still winding down from it all now," she said.
Mrs Hooker wanted to thank everyone who had helped with the search for Tabitha.
"The police and search and rescue were amazing, they're so quick and professional. All our family and friends, especially Karen Bailey and Bev and Damien. And everyone who helped us.
"The community spirit is alive and well in Raumanga, that's for sure.
"It just goes to show that Christmas isn't about presents."
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Northern Advocate
Meet NZ's national mullet-growing champion - and he's only 10-years-old
Ted Keen has just been named the winner of Aotearoa’s Next Top Mullet.