A search for a missing five year old girl in northeastern Germany ended safely after two schoolgirls noticed the child alone and decided to help her.
The incident happened in Anklam, in the state of Mecklenburg Vorpommern, on Thursday afternoon.
According to Neubrandenburg Police, the five year old had been at a playground on Rigaer Straße with her mother when she suddenly ran between parked vehicles and disappeared from sight.
Mother alerts police
After being unable to locate her daughter, the mother contacted police at around 3:30 p.m.
Officers immediately began searching the surrounding area.
NDR reports that authorities were already preparing to expand the operation with a police helicopter and a dog unit when an unexpected breakthrough came.
Two local schoolgirls, aged just 10 and 11, had spotted the missing child.
Girls realized something was wrong
The students noticed that the five year old appeared disoriented and sad.
Instead of walking past, they approached her, looked after her and began accompanying her in the direction of her home, according to police.
During the journey, the group encountered officers who were searching for the missing child.
Police quickly confirmed her identity.
The five year old was unharmed and was safely reunited with her parents.
Police praise their quick thinking
Neubrandenburg Police publicly praised the two schoolgirls for their actions.
NDR reports that officers specifically highlighted their attentiveness and responsible response after realizing that the younger child appeared to need help.
Their intervention also meant that the larger search operation, including the planned deployment of a helicopter and police dogs, was no longer necessary.
What began as a frightening disappearance for one family therefore ended with the child safely back home and two young students receiving praise for acting when they saw someone in trouble.
