A 2-year-old girl whose disappearance sparked a frantic search in West Auckland this afternoon has been found.
Video / NZ Herald
A 2-year-old girl whose disappearance sparked a frantic search in West Auckland yesterday was reunited with family in emotional scenes.
The toddler, named Willow, went missing from her home on Zodiac St in Henderson on Sunday afternoon.
For six hours, hundreds of concerned Henderson residents joined Willow’s family and PoliceSearch and Rescue to scour the neighbourhood in search of the little girl.
A crowd of people cheered as the toddler was returned to her waiting family outside their house around 7.45pm. One person was overheard saying “Oh, little hero”.
Willow gave a wave and people involved in the search gave her a kiss on the cheek. Some in the crowd were in tears.
Hundreds of volunteers had joined Police Search and Rescue in looking for Willow on Sunday afternoon.
Police confirmed she had been reunited with her family and thanked all of those involved in the search.
Willow was last seen in the garden playing with a sibling, and was wearing a pink jersey, jeans and black-and-white sneakers.
“All the kids were here on the property and we could hear them playing on the trampoline from inside,” said Willow’s cousin Aroha Tecklenburg.
“Then we came outside, and Willow was in front of us playing.”
The gate at the home was always locked when Willow was in the back garden, but may not have been secured properly that afternoon, Tecklenburg said.
She described the 2-year-old as initially reserved with strangers and “a mummy’s girl”, but said she was very talkative once she got to know a person.
“She has never wandered off on her own before,” she said. “Listen out for your neighbours for a continuously crying baby in West Auckland. Just listen out and bring her home, please.”
Willow was last seen in the garden of her Henderson home playing with a sibling. Photo / Supplied
Despite the police focus on the black vehicle, volunteers remained on the streets searching for the child.
Many were equipped with torches or were using the light on their phones, and others had children in pyjamas in tow.
A witness said earlier in the afternoon, a number of police staff had entered the premises on Zodiac St and taken statements.
“Family and friends have gathered at the home on Zodiac St, hugging and crying, all full of emotion.”
Police Search and Rescue and LandSar teams in Henderson. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Police search for missing West Auckland 2-year-old Willow in the suburb of Henderson. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Police Search and Rescue, LandSar, police, Community Patrol and the community were out in force, with images showing police searching a nearby creek.
Police Search and Rescue and LandSar teams remained at their mobile search and rescue base on nearby Ascot Ave, while friends, family and locals walked the streets calling “Willow, Willow, Willow”.
A member of the public also launched a personal drone to help with the search.
A team of specialist search and rescue personnel were deployed to search a nearby creek. Photo / Hayden Woodward
A team of specialist search and rescue personnel were deployed to search a nearby creek. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Residents in the Zodiac St area were asked to check their properties for the toddler.
Anyone who may have sighted Willow was asked to call police on 111 and quote event number P055661546.
