A police officer who led the search team looking for a lost three-year-old girl said Thursday, “It’s just an amazing feeling. I’ve had my team out there, on the phone, just elated. I could only imagine how excited the family was.” This was after the girl and her dog, a Jack Russell terrier, were spotted by one of three helicopters deployed to search for her on an Australian cattle ranch.

The toddler, named Matilda, was missing for almost 24 hours at a cattle station in Western Australia’s Pilbara region located about 750 miles northeast of Perth. She had wandered about 2 miles from her home at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The urgency of the search was escalated by the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Blake that caused flooding and road closures in the area. The storm carved a swath over Western Australia (WA) and police described the environment in the area as "very challenging".

Pilbara police superintendent Kim Massam told ABC News that Matilda and the dog were trapped on the wrong side of a creek bed near her house. He said, "We think that Matilda had walked through a creek bed, which was close to her house [but] that creek rose due to heavy rains in the area, trapping Matilda on the other side of the creek from the homestead.”

Massam also heaped praise on the dog exclaiming, "That little puppy stayed with her that whole time, alongside her through what was an unsheltered evening. That little dog will be the toast of the station tonight."

The Jack Russell breed is a hunting dog that dates to 1795 and is a variant of the Fox Terrier breed. They tend to be extremely intelligent, athletic, fearless, and vocal dogs. Fortunately for Matilda, properly socialized Jack Russell dogs are friendly toward children but will, like any animal, defend itself against abuse both intentional and unintentional.

The dog was not the only animal hero as local riders on horseback from the Pilbara community also aided in the search.

WA Emergency Services Minister Fran Logan praised the search effort, especially State Emergency Service volunteers from Newman who were the first to arrive and begin the overnight search. He said, “It's a great story and really, congratulations to everyone and I'm sure her parents must be overjoyed, she's fine, well and back at home."

The girl was given water before returning her to parents after what was an unforgettable night for them and the community. As for Matilda, she needed a warm bath and a good night's sleep but at age three, she has probably forgotten about her ordeal and is once again playing in the yard with her dog. And that, indeed, is a happy ending.

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