- Dec 27, 2016
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Police say they have found the dog believed to have been with a four-year-old girl on a remote property in southern Tasmania when she went missing. The girl, Shayla Phillips, was last seen in the backyard of her home on Stormlea Road, Stormlea, around 2:30pm yesterday.
She was wearing pink leggings, a cream top and gumboots.
Police said they received a call around 3pm yesterday reporting the incident.
Shalya's mother Bianca said the little girl was playing outside with two dogs belonging to neighbours. "That's not an uncommon thing, Shayla knows the dogs very well and is very fond of them," Inspector Gavin Hallett said this morning.
"Her mother went out to check on Shayla after about 30 minutes and found that she and the dogs were not there."
The mother did a search of the house and property but when Shayla could not be found, she contacted the police.
"While she was waiting for Tasmania Police to attend, she also conducted a search of some neighbouring properties with a friend, however Shayla was again not located," Inspector Hallett said.
When the local police officer arrived, he searched the broader area.
"Because of the isolation, the terrain, and the age of Shayla, the rescue helicopter was deployed immediately and started a sweep search," Inspector Hallett said.
"Soon thereafter, police reinforcements arrived and conducted further, more expansive searches as well as some doorknocks of the area."
As the incident progressed, further resources were added — including a drone with a thermal camera, all-terrain vehicles and the SES wilderness search teams.
One of the dogs returned home shortly after the search commenced, and the other dog was found by a search helicopter at 7pm about 700 metres from the house. There was no sign of Shayla.
Police currently have no reason to suspect Shayla's disappearance is suspicious, but have not ruled it out, he said.
www.abc.net.au
She was wearing pink leggings, a cream top and gumboots.
Police said they received a call around 3pm yesterday reporting the incident.
Shalya's mother Bianca said the little girl was playing outside with two dogs belonging to neighbours. "That's not an uncommon thing, Shayla knows the dogs very well and is very fond of them," Inspector Gavin Hallett said this morning.
"Her mother went out to check on Shayla after about 30 minutes and found that she and the dogs were not there."
The mother did a search of the house and property but when Shayla could not be found, she contacted the police.
"While she was waiting for Tasmania Police to attend, she also conducted a search of some neighbouring properties with a friend, however Shayla was again not located," Inspector Hallett said.
When the local police officer arrived, he searched the broader area.
"Because of the isolation, the terrain, and the age of Shayla, the rescue helicopter was deployed immediately and started a sweep search," Inspector Hallett said.
"Soon thereafter, police reinforcements arrived and conducted further, more expansive searches as well as some doorknocks of the area."
As the incident progressed, further resources were added — including a drone with a thermal camera, all-terrain vehicles and the SES wilderness search teams.
One of the dogs returned home shortly after the search commenced, and the other dog was found by a search helicopter at 7pm about 700 metres from the house. There was no sign of Shayla.
Police currently have no reason to suspect Shayla's disappearance is suspicious, but have not ruled it out, he said.
Police revisit search zones as concerns for missing 4yo Shayla increase
Police revisit search zones and bring in extra resources including horses as concerns increase for the safety of a four-year-old Shayla Phillips missing in southern Tasmania for more than a day.
www.abc.net.au
