The mother of missing Tasmanian 4-year-old, Shayla Phillips, has spoken out via a heartfelt post to social media, thanking all those who assisted in the search and recovery of her young daughter.

The statement, posted to Facebook, revealed the mother’s overwhelming relief after search crews located her “little girl”, accompanied by the touching hashtag #ForeverGrateful. The post detailed Shayla’s physical state, revealing she had suffered minor abrasions after spending over 48 hours alone in the harsh Tasmanian bushland.

“I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart with everything I have that I am currently sitting here with my precious baby girl with a few bruises, scratches, bites and a urine infection after spending over 48 hours alone in the bush,” Bianca wrote.

She went on to thank police, emergency services and the general public for their hard-work in locating her missing daughter.

“A huge big thank you to the SES, Tasmania Police Victorian officers ambulance and all the locals of the peninsula, my friends and family and … the whole of Tasmania,” she wrote.