The father of a five-year-old girl who had been missing in Queensland for nearly 24 hours has thanked the hundreds of volunteers who searched for his daughter.

The desperate hunt on the Gold Coast for Jocelyn Lewis ended today after she was located safe and well cowering beneath a motorway overpass.

"I was getting concerned it was going to go the other way," Steve Lewis said. "She’s got a few cuts and bruises so I think we’re going to go check her out."



"It was a relief. I want to thank everyone for the support. It's fantastic.

"We want to thank the community for everything they have done. That’s how she was found. Thank you very much for everyone.

Gonna clear her up, and get a good meal."

Jocelyn was located by volunteers merely five minutes away from where she originally went missing.

View photos

Jocelyn cuddling into her father shortly after being found. Source: 7 News.

View photos

The five-year-old girl ran away from her family in Nerang. Photo: Qld Police

The five-year-old was found under an overpass, hiding in long grass and has since been assessed by medical staff.

The little girl was located safe and well on Spall Street by a member of the public who was tasked to search the area.

Jocelyn’s parents have since been reunited with their daughter.

The widespread search of Nerang and surrounding areas overnight failed to uncover any sign of the missing girl with temperatures dropping to a cool 10 degrees.

The search radius had been expanded to 10kms in the hopes the little girl would be located.

Her aunt, Jenny Willmott, spoke at a press conference earlier on Monday appealing to the public for any assistance they could offer.

“We just want Jocelyn to come back home safely,” she pleaded.

When asked how the child's parents were coping she stated, “Obviously very distressed at the moment."

“Jocelyn’s favourite game is hide and seek and we are very very concerned that she is out there hiding at the moment. And that’s why we’re asking everyone to double check their backyards.”

Missing child: The @GoldCoastSUNS player have arrived to help search for Jocelyn. @7NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/7klgdW38gN — Bianca Stone (@Bianca_Stone) July 25, 2016

“Her parents are doing everything they can to find her, they are absolutely beside themselves.”

The aunt also asked nearby residents who have checked their homes and yards to check again, particularly in any areas where a child may curl up, have a sleep or hide.

Story continues