The mum of Shayla Phillips, the four-year-old girl who went missing for more than 48 hours in the dense Tasmanian bush, has thanked emergency services and "the whole of Tasmania" for finding her little girl alive.
Bianca Page, Shayla's mum, posted a heartfelt message on Facebook, saying she is "forever grateful" her daughter was found.
"I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart with everything I have that I am currently sitting here with my precious baby girl with a few bruises, scratches, bites and an urine infection after spending over 48 hours alone in the bush," Ms Page wrote.
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"A huge big thank you to the SES, Tasmania Police Victorian officers ambulance and all the locals of the peninsula, my friends and family and … the whole of Tasmania."
"The messages I received from everybody your thoughts and prayers were all so overwhelming, I seriously honestly cannot thank you enough. #ForeverGreatful."
Shayla disappeared on Wednesday afternoon from her remote family property in Stormlea, in Tasmania's south-east, which sparked an extensive search.
Tasmania police announced the news yesterday afternoon that Shayla was found just one kilometre from her home by State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers.
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Inspector Gavin Hallett said yesterday emergency services were relieved the little girl was found alive and well.
"It was the right place at the right time, had the SES volunteer been looking to the left and not the right we could have still been doing the search," he said.
Shayla was taken to hospital for medical treatment yesterday but, as her mum's post confirmed, she only has minor injuries.
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Both Tasmanian and Victorian police resources had been poured into the search for the little girl.
Drones, heat-seeking technology and sniffer dogs, as well as the assistance of hundreds of volunteers, were used by emergency crews hoping to find the girl alive.
