Missing Abu Dhabi teenager returns safely

Abu Dhabi:A 16-year-old girl of Chinese origin, who was missing since Thursday, was found Sunday morning, her parents told Gulf News.

In reports on Saturday, Gulf News said Li Xue, an eighth grade pupil, was last seen getting into a taxi late on Thursday near a restaurant on Abu Dhabi's Muroor Street, according to Zhu Chunyan, 40, her mother, and Gil Luc, 40, her stepfather who is French.

The sleepless couple, who had been searching for their daughter in every nook and corner of Abu Dhabi since Thursday night, received the happy news from the Chinese Embassy Sunday morning.

"They told me she was dropped by a taxi at the embassy around 10am. We were very happy at hearing the news. But we were really relaxed when we met her and found her safe at the embassy," her stepfather told Gulf News.

Safe but tired

Li Xue was found in perfect health although she looked tired, said her mother.

Chunyan, who runs a beauty salon, said her daughter told her she got lost while trying to reach the salon by taxi late on Thursday.

"She said she was walking on the streets and rested in restaurants while searching for her parents. Her mobile phone battery ran out and she couldn't even take anybody's help to call us," Chunyan said. "Then she said she did not remember anything else."

The parents said they did not know who dropped her off at the embassy in the taxi. The Chinese Embassy was not available for comment on Sunday.

When Gulf News visited their home on Sunday afternoon the girl was not with her parents who said they had taken her from the embassy to a police station to report the matter, as they had already filed a police complaint.

"The police said, as part of their investigations, they wanted to get the information from her about her going missing. They said she might be scared to give all the information in the presence of her parents, so on their request we left her with the police for their investigations," the mother said.

Abu Dhabi Police said they did not want to comment on the case because investigations were still under way.

Chunyan said it seems her daughter's miscalculation about the time caused all the trouble. Her mobile phone had shut down and she had forgotten to wear her wristwatch as well.

"Although we came to know that she got into a taxi at 12:30am on Thursday to reach my salon, she yesterday told me she took the taxi around 8pm," Chunyan said.

Walking aimlessly

She reached the salon and found it closed, the mother said, and got upset and started walking aimlessly in the city streets.

Chunyan said although she believed her daughter did not have any money, Li Xue did actually have some money with her which she used to buy food from restaurants.

"Anyway we are so happy she has come back safe. We had started searching for her yesterday from 5am onwards at all parks and markets near our home.

"Then came the happy news from the embassy after 10am," the relieved mother said with a smile.