Moment police helicopter found missing girl, six, asleep in a field after she vanished from her home in the middle of the night
A six-year-old girl was found curled up asleep in a field after vanishing from her home in the middle of the night, police footage has revealed.
The child's 'terrified' parents called 999 after realising their daughter was missing from her bed at their farm near Chittlehamholt in Devon at 9.30pm on Saturday, August 7.
Incredible footage taken from a police helicopter showed the moment the girl was found by officers an hour later - at 10.40pm.
The National Police Air Service described the situation as 'every parent's worst nightmare' as it shared the video on social media.
In a tweet the force wrote: 'Missing from a farm in a rural setting at night, she was located in the pitch dark by our helicopter crew using their infra-red camera system.
The child's 'terrified' parents called 999 after realising their daughter was missing from her bed at their farm near Chittlehamholt in Devon
'She was found asleep in a field, over a half a mile away from her home.
'In this instance, a massive team effort from the police control room, the police officers on the ground and the officers in the air to get this child home safely to her terrified parents.'
In the video the camera pans across fields looking for signs of heat which show up as black marks.
Animals grazing nearby can be seen dotted around the grasslands but it is a small figure next to a hedgerow that catches the attention of the crew.
The camera pans back and starts to zoom in on the black figure, which turns out to be the child.
Incredible footage taken from a police helicopter showed the moment the girl was found by officers
Meanwhile, on the ground officers have parked up their car and are making their way towards the little girl
The little girl was found curled up asleep in a corner of this field after she went missing
Meanwhile, on the ground, officers have parked up their car and are making their way towards the little girl.
After a scary evening for her parents the family were reunited for a brief trip to hospital so the girl could be checked over.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'Police were called at 9.30pm on Saturday 7 August after a young girl was reported missing from a rural property in the Umberleigh area.
'Officers attended and carried out an area search along with the police helicopter and a dog unit.
'The child was located safe and well in a field around 10.40pm by the helicopter working with officers on the ground. She was taken to hospital to be checked over a precaution.'
Underneath the tweet supporters of the NPAS were quick to congratulate the force on the success of the operation.
One wrote: 'Fantastic job. We are so lucky to have such resources.'
Another said: 'Brilliant work. That's why you are essential. Proud of you all.'