Little Lucija's ordeal ends

A happy ending: But Lucija is exhausted

A missing toddler is every family's worst nightmare. But for one distraught family in north-eastern Slovenia - the nightmare is over.

I slept in the black woods

Lucija

Three-year-old Lucija, who went missing in thick woodland on Thursday morning, was found by a passing motorist on Friday, nearly 24 hours later.

The little girl's ordeal has been dominating the Slovenian media and the main TV channel has been broadcasting pictures of the relieved family and an exhausted Lucija.

Hundreds of police and volunteers scoured the woods

The TV said a massive search operation had been under way all day Thursday and overnight involving more than 250 police and volunteers.

Lucija wandered off in thick woodland and the rescuers spent all night scouring the woods and ravines in this hilly region.

After she was found on Friday morning, Lucija said simply: "I slept in the black woods".

Lucija's relieved mother carries her daughter home

Her grandfather Anton Pecnik told the TV he had feared the worst.

"I was sure that she was buried somewhere and we would never see her again," he said.

Doctors said that apart from being cold and thirsty, Lucija was fine.

Her mother Simona Pecnik said she would never forget the terrible night she spent searching the woods for her daughter - nor the selflessness of all the people who helped to search for her.