A non-verbal autistic tot has been found in a forest after vanishing for three days.
Alice Maciel Lacerda Lisboa was staying at her grandmother’s farm when she reportedly got out through the back door.
Her grandmother was distracted making a bank transfer to the child’s father when she disappeared last Thursday (29 Jan).
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The authorities carried out a frantic search operation for three days.
Twelve teams took part in the hunt for the disabled tot, who requires constant care, with the help of sniffer dogs and drones.
The girl’s mother Karine Maciel Morais, 24, said on social media: “Alice stays with me all the time, the only time she isn’t with me is when I’m at work.
“She needs my care.”
The search by firefighters around the rural area of Jeceaba, south of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was made more difficult by intermittent rainfall and the steep, dense terrain, which affected the drones’ thermal imaging capabilities.
After two nights exposed to the elements, little Alice was found alive in a forest on Saturday (31 Jan).
She was located in the rural area of Lajeado, about 1.5 miles from her grandmother’s farm, as reported by Need To Know.
Touching images showed the moment she was reunited with her relieved mum.
Alice was hungry and dehydrated, with some cuts and scrapes on her body, but otherwise unharmed.
“My heart is overwhelmed,” Karine said. “Thank you so much to everyone here who helped, especially the volunteers.”
Her father João Victor Lacerda Lisboa said: “I’m so grateful, the only thing I care about is that my daughter was found.
“Thank God nobody touched my daughter.”
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