A team effort saw two girls missing for hours overnight reunited with relieved family members early this morning.
According to OPP, the family of five-year-old Amber Leonard and seven-year-old Lexys Leonard thought the girls had gone blueberry picking with a family member when they went missing sometime the morning of Sunday, Aug. 30.
"Unbeknownst to their caregivers, the children had gone into the woods, near the family home to look for their dogs," said police in a news release.
The girls were last seen near Highway 11 and Highway 655 in Driftwood, near Cochrane.
They were located around 12:30 a.m. Aug. 31 about 1.5 kilometres from their home. Police said they appeared in good health and were with their dogs. They were assessed by Cochrane District Emergency Medical Services.
According to OPP, they received the missing persons call around 4 p.m. The effort to locate the girls included the OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT), OPP canine, Aviation Services, Planning and Analysis Section (RPAS), Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS), Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Conservation Officers, MNRF canine, and MNRF marine.
A large number of volunteers from the area were also on scene to search the area.
A video shared on social media captures the emotional reunion:
