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Mum of ‘petrified’ girl left on school bus hits back at criticism over her parenting

The mother of the five-year-old girl who was stuck on a school bus for almost five hours on Monday has spoken out over the incident, fending off questions as to why her child was on the bus by herself.

Queensland mother Bobbie Langdon is demanding answers after her five-year-old daughter Alyssa Jayde fell asleep on the school bus ride home and wasn't found for some four-and-a-half hours later.

The mother says she was waiting at the bus stop to pick up her daughter but she never showed.

Alyssa Jayde was missing for some four-and-a-half hours. Source: Queensland Police
Alyssa Jayde was missing for some four-and-a-half hours. Source: Queensland Police

"It is something that no parent should have to go through," she told 7 News. "[I thought] maybe she got the next bus, maybe the wrong bus."

Ms Langdon has been forced to defend herself from comments online about why her five-year-old daughter was catching the bus by herself.

Bobbie Langdon says her daughter loves the bus. Source: 7 News
Bobbie Langdon says her daughter loves the bus. Source: 7 News
Ms Langdon says she waited at this bus stop for her daughter. Source: 7 News
Ms Langdon says she waited at this bus stop for her daughter. Source: 7 News

"You got s*** to say about my parenting?" she wrote to one person. "You get your facts straight b****."

Ms Langdon told 7 News her daughter "loves the bus".

Police said the initial information they had received from the school was that she never actually got on the bus.

Seven News understands she wandered onto the bus when the driver stepped off to collect children he knew had to get on.

"They should have a routine that the buses are checked once they are parked at the depot," Ms Langdon said.

Ms Langdon said her daughter was "petrified and crying, banging on the school bus doors to get out" when she was finally found about 7.10pm on Monday.

Another driver was the one to find Alyssa Jayde at 7pm.

Alyssa Jayde is now home safe. Source: 7 News
Alyssa Jayde is now home safe. Source: 7 News

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk lashed the bus company involved in the incident, Logan Coaches, for not completing a compulsory search of the bus at the end of the school run.

"It appears that the driver did not do the end of run sweep as drivers are supposed to with those bus companies," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.

"It's a timely reminder for the bus companies to ensure that that is done."

She said the Department of Transport will write to bus companies reminding them of their obligations to complete a check at the end of the bus run.

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