7-year-old goes missing overnight while camping, WA cops say. Then angler hears crying

A missing 7-year-old was found after a fisherman heard her cries, Washington officials said.

The girl was camping with her grandparents at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway on Aug. 11, according to a news release by Clark County deputies.

She was last seen sitting by herself across from her campsite between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., deputies said.

Rescue teams continued searching throughout the night.

In the morning, more search and rescue crews arrived and the mission continued, officials said.

At 8:45 a.m., a fisherman heard the girl crying from a “steep section of shoreline” and called 911, officials said.

Authorities were able to get to the girl and bring her on their boat less than an hour later, deputies said, and she was reunited with her family.

Deputies didn’t provide details on why she went missing.

Clark County is about a 170-mile drive south of Seattle.

This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 6:05 PM with the headline "7-year-old goes missing overnight while camping, WA cops say. Then angler hears crying."