Hero dogs helped save the life of two-year-old girl who got lost in nature strip filled with waterways after she wandered off with her pets

  • Two-year-old Dixie Hornbuckle followed her dogs into the bush 
  • She was missing for nearly five hours before she was rescued
  • Police located her after one of the dogs ran out into the clearing 
  • Her mother, Angela,  said it was a very scary time for them 
  • Her father, Clint, thanked family, friends and SES workers for their help  

By Sarah Carty for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 08:52 EDT, 21 May 2015 | Updated: 18:00 EDT, 21 May 2015

An adorable two-year-old girl who wandered off into bushland with her two dogs for nearly five hours was rescued when one of her pets alerted a chopper to her whereabouts.

Dixie Horbuckle's mother Angela realised her precious daughter was missing at about 10:30am on Thursday and alerted police, who began a huge search and rescue operation around her Pine Mountain home near Ipswich. 

The toddler had her dogs, a white Bull Arab called Bella and a Blue Heeler called Rina, to thank for her rescue after one of them made a dash for a clearing as the search chopper flew overhead.

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Dixie Horbuckle (pictured) went missing on Thursday when she wandered off into the bush beside her house 

Dixie Horbuckle (pictured) went missing on Thursday when she wandered off into the bush beside her house 

Thankfully, the dogs had stayed by her side throughout the whole day. 

The adventurous toddler was eventually spotted in the nature strip just down the road from her family home at 3pm, much to the relief of her distraught parents.  

Within minutes, Dixie's uncle was by her side and carried her back to the safety of her mother's hands.  

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Dixie's mother said she was 'worried sick' about the welfare of her young child, especially as the nature strip is speckled with treacherous waterways. 

Dixie Horbuckle's mother Angela realised her precious daughter was missing at about 10:30am on Thursday and alerted police

Dixie Horbuckle's mother Angela realised her precious daughter was missing at about 10:30am on Thursday and alerted police

'It was very scary', Ms Horbuckle said. 

'I actually didn't think the dogs would stay with her.

'I can't believe it. I'm very thankful that they did.'

Ms Horbuckle said that although it was a scary experience for her and her husband, Clint, little Dixie was unfazed by the huge operation launched to find her. 

Apart from a couple of minor scratches, the blonde-haired girl is just happy to back at home with her parents.  

A massive search and rescue operation began around her Pine Mountain home near Ipswich

A massive search and rescue operation began around her Pine Mountain home near Ipswich

The toddler has her dogs, a white Bull Arab called Bella and a Blue Heeler called Rina, to thank for her rescue after one of them made a dash for a clearing as the search chopper flew overhead

The toddler has her dogs, a white Bull Arab called Bella and a Blue Heeler called Rina, to thank for her rescue after one of them made a dash for a clearing as the search chopper flew overhead

The adventurous toddler was eventually spotted in the nature strip just down the road from her family home at 3pm, much to the relief of her distraught parents

The adventurous toddler was eventually spotted in the nature strip just down the road from her family home at 3pm, much to the relief of her distraught parents

'She's just a two-year-old she has no fear and no worries in the world,' Ms Horbuckle said. 

And while she may seem like she is ready to go out and explore the world on her own, Ms Horbuckle said Dixie is usually not adventurous and has never wandered from the house on her own before.   

'She's adventurous in that she's very friendly but she's never done anything that scary before,' she said.   

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Dixie's father Clint said they would like to thank their friends and family for their help while she was missing and particularly mentioned CareFlight Helicopter, who spotted one of the dogs in a clearing, which lead to her rescue. 

Thankfully, the dogs had stayed by her side throughout the whole day

Thankfully, the dogs had stayed by her side throughout the whole day

The adventurous toddler was eventually spotted in the nature strip just down the road from her family home at 3pm, much to the relief of her distraught parents

The adventurous toddler was eventually spotted in the nature strip just down the road from her family home at 3pm, much to the relief of her distraught parents

Within minutes, Dixie's uncle was by her side and carried her back to the safety of her mother's hands

Within minutes, Dixie's uncle was by her side and carried her back to the safety of her mother's hands

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Missing Dixie Hornbuckle who got lost in bushlands saved by hero dogs

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