A seven-year-old girl, who had been missing overnight at Lake Merwin in Clark County, was found safe early Monday morning following diligent efforts from search teams and a local angler. KATU reports that the girl was last seen on Sunday evening between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m near her family's campsite before being reported missing to the authorities.

The initial search comprised both deputies and locals before Clark County Search and Rescue (SAR) took over the operation into the night. Despite these extensive efforts, the search continued unsuccessfully through the night, according to KOIN.

The break in the case came when a fisherman, present at a steep part of the lake's shoreline early in the morning, heard cries for help. Upon investigation, they discovered the young girl and promptly notified police of her whereabouts. Clark County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol arrived by boat to the scene at approximately 9:30 a.m. and brought the girl back to the safety of the dock and her relieved family.

While the circumstances leading to her disappearance remain unclear, "the girl may have slipped and tumbled into some bushes and become disoriented," a spokesperson for the Clark County Sheriff's Office suggested in a statement obtained by KGW. The girl was evaluated by medical personnel and is believed to have escaped the harrowing ordeal without any major injuries.