1. Headline
  1. Headline
Image: Victoria Bensch
Yavapai County Sheriff's Office
Victoria Bensch, 3, disappeared and went missing overnight before she was spotted Friday morning by searchers in a helicopter, authorities say.
updated 2/22/2010 1:06:18 PM ET 2010-02-22T18:06:18

A family dog is credited with keeping a little girl safe after she spent the overnight hours Friday in 30-degree temperatures near Cordes Lakes, 36 miles east of Prescott.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn credits the dog, a Queensland Heeler, with 3-year-old Victoria Bensch's survival.

A Department of Public Safety helicopter crew saw movement and found the little girl and her dog just before 9 a.m. Friday, three-quarters of a mile from her home.

D'Evelyn said the DPS crew landed and then flew the child back to be reunited her mother and father.

The child was then flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital, where she will be treated for frostbite.

Authorities said the little girl was outside playing early Thursday evening when she disappeared along with her dog.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Discuss:

Discussion comments

,

More on TODAY.com

None
  1. 7 months after Sandy, Jersey Shore reopens to cheers

    Most of the beaches and boardwalks of the Jersey Shore are back and open for business in time for Memorial Day weekend.

    5/24/2013 12:47:23 PM +00:00 2013-05-24T12:47:23
  2. video Sandy recovery still a work in progress
  3. fun. kicks off TODAY’s concert series 
  4. TODAY
None
  1. TODAY

    TODAY visits the Shore: A behind-the-scenes look

    5/23/2013 7:02:04 PM +00:00 2013-05-23T19:02:04
None
  1. Christie on upcoming Obama visit: 'I'll be here to welcome him'

    New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie brushed off concerns Friday that President Obama’s visit to his state next week will harm his political future.

    5/24/2013 12:45:54 PM +00:00 2013-05-24T12:45:54
None
  1. TODAY

    New sunscreen test: Surprising results

    5/24/2013 12:27:46 PM +00:00 2013-05-24T12:27:46
None
  1. TODAY

    video Okla. principal: After storm, ‘the crying stopped’

    5/24/2013 1:04:25 PM +00:00 2013-05-24T13:04:25