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Jocelyn found: Desperate search for five-year-old on Gold Coast ends

The father of a five-year-old girl who had been missing in Queensland for nearly 24 hours has thanked the hundreds of volunteers who searched for his daughter.

The desperate hunt on the Gold Coast for Jocelyn Lewis ended today after she was located safe and well cowering beneath a motorway overpass.

"I was getting concerned it was going to go the other way," Steve Lewis said. "She’s got a few cuts and bruises so I think we’re going to go check her out."

"It was a relief. I want to thank everyone for the support. It's fantastic.

"We want to thank the community for everything they have done. That’s how she was found. Thank you very much for everyone.
Gonna clear her up, and get a good meal."

Jocelyn was located by volunteers merely five minutes away from where she originally went missing.

Jocelyn cuddling into her father shortly after being found. Source: 7 News.

The five-year-old girl ran away from her family in Nerang. Photo: Qld Police

The five-year-old was found under an overpass, hiding in long grass and has since been assessed by medical staff.

The little girl was located safe and well on Spall Street by a member of the public who was tasked to search the area.

Jocelyn’s parents have since been reunited with their daughter.

The widespread search of Nerang and surrounding areas overnight failed to uncover any sign of the missing girl with temperatures dropping to a cool 10 degrees.

The search radius had been expanded to 10kms in the hopes the little girl would be located.

Her aunt, Jenny Willmott, spoke at a press conference earlier on Monday appealing to the public for any assistance they could offer.

“We just want Jocelyn to come back home safely,” she pleaded.

When asked how the child's parents were coping she stated, “Obviously very distressed at the moment."

“Jocelyn’s favourite game is hide and seek and we are very very concerned that she is out there hiding at the moment. And that’s why we’re asking everyone to double check their backyards.”

“Her parents are doing everything they can to find her, they are absolutely beside themselves.”

The aunt also asked nearby residents who have checked their homes and yards to check again, particularly in any areas where a child may curl up, have a sleep or hide.

Residents have taken to leaving blankets and food outside their homes in the hope Jocelyn will find it

Concerned local residents had left out care packages for the missing five-year-old in the hopes that Jocelyn will find them.

Blankets, teddy bears, food and water were left outside homes and draped over letter boxes in and around Nerang and Carrara overnight by concerned locals.

A command centre had been established and the missing girl’s parents had been remaining there waiting for any updates on her whereabouts.

SES workers and police scour the area in Nerang. Photo: 7 News

More than 150 police officers and emergency service workers were involved in the search for the child.

An amber alert was issued for the girl on Sunday night, when she ran away from her father’s home near Nielsens Road, Nerang at about 4.30pm.

Acting Inspector Laurie Shevlin told reporters on Monday morning that the extensive overnight search did not uncover any sign of the girl.

He said the family were "very distressed" but are doing "remarkably well" under the circumstances.

Police are now widening their search area. Photo: 7 News

"Our main priority is to locate the girl," Mr Shevlin said, reminding the public of a medical condition that may make her less inclined to respond to an approaching stranger.

Members of the Nerang community and surrounding areas were being asked to search their properties for "any place a small child could take shelter".

The child is described as Caucasian with blonde hair and blue eyes and is 115cm tall.

She was wearing a dark pink t-shirt with a ladybird picture on the front, denim shorts and no shoes.

[[img:https://s.yimg.com/dh/ap/default/160724/art_missing4.jpg|caption=About 160 volunteers assisted in the search overnight. Photo: 7 News|size=O]

Police were stationed at the 7-Eleven close to where the girl first disappeared. Source: Google Maps.

Ray White at Surfers Paradise had asked locals to volunteer to search for her after revealing the girl was the daughter of one of their staff members.

CEO Andrew Bell said many of his staff had joined the search in support of their long-time colleague.

“She’s a valued member of our team,” he told News Corp.

“It would be gut-wrenching for any parent.

“A whole bunch of our staff are out here so it’s all hands on deck.

The missing girl's aunt spoke at a police press conference and asked for assistance. Source: 7 News.

“We’ve just got to be supportive.”

An exclusion zone was put in place just before 1am as officers and volunteers ramped up their search for the girl overnight.

The girl was reportedly spotted on Sunday afternoon in a back street of the suburb.

Anyone with information is urged to call 131 564 or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

News break – July 24