Joy as a missing British girl, 13, reunited with her mother weeks after she went missing in Trinidad

A 13-year-old British girl who went missing in Trinidad on a trip to the corner shop was found safe and sound nearly three weeks later.

Delika White Lezama, of Greenford, London, disappeared on December 17 while visiting the Caribbean with her mother and brother.

Desperate relatives searched unsuccessfully for days and tried to reach her by phone, fearing for her safety.

In joyful photos released by a local search and rescue crew who managed to track her down, Delika can be seen hugging her emotional mother Delia White and grandmother.

Delika White Lezama, from Greenford, London, will be reunited with her mother on Friday December 6th

Delika went missing while visiting Trinidad to visit her grandmother with her mother and younger brother

The teenager was last seen walking down a side street after going to a corner shop near her grandmother’s house in the town of Sangre Grande around 4pm to buy a SIM card for her phone.

Police investigations into her disappearance are ongoing.

Captain Vallence Rambharat, who led the search for the Hunters Search and Rescue Team, said from the southern Caribbean island: “Delika White Lezama was safely located at 5.15pm this evening.

“After weeks of hard work by her family, the Trinidad Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Sangre Grande Police Officers and the Hunters Search and Rescue team, it has paid off. She was found. The matter is still being considered by the TTPS [Trinidad and Tobago Police Service].’

Relatives Melonie Brown shared her relief online that Delika had been found with her friends and family: “FOUND and safe at home. God is good. I appreciate any support and spread of awareness. We as a family are really grateful.’

According to The Mirror, Delika’s family began a frantic search for her after realizing she hadn’t come home ten minutes later but couldn’t find her.

Police officers from the local armed forces’ anti-kidnapping unit joined the search, whose family has received assistance from the British Foreign Office.

A local search and rescue group, the Hunter Search and Rescue Team, confirmed late Friday that Delika had been found and reunited with her family.

The happy scenes took place at 5:15pm local time – 9:15pm UK time – 20 days after her initial disappearance.

They had shared a renewed appeal just hours before finding the teenager, asking for the public’s help and saying they had been “non-stop” searching for her.

Photos posted by the team showed the moment her mother saw her again at Delika’s grandmother’s house.

The Hunters Search and Rescue Team said: “Weeks of hard work by your family, the Anti Kidnapping Unit, the Sangre Grande Police and the Hunters Search and Rescue Team has just paid off.”

They have added more updates as more information becomes available.

Delika (right) pictured with members of the search and rescue team that found her

Delika (right) used to go to the local corner shop before disappearing while visiting her grandmother

Since the teenager’s disappearance, the family has sent several messages to Delika’s phone, which have been delivered but not read

The teenager was last seen walking down a side street after walking to a corner shop near her grandmother’s house in the town of Sangre Grande around 4pm on December 17

The teen’s mother said the family began a manic search when her daughter failed to return home

Delika’s family had repeatedly asked on social media to find her, saying they were “beyond despair”.

Delika’s aunt Melanie Moore told The Mirror she hopes Delika “ran away,” adding: “Otherwise it won’t be good.”

Ms Moore said Delika’s mother, Delia White, is looking “everywhere she can” and was deeply upset.

She added: “I am only praying for her safe return. A lot of time has passed in between, which isn’t a great thing for anyone.

“At this point, I hope she’s run away and comes back before her plane ticket expires. That’s the best-case scenario. Otherwise it will not be good.”

Ms Moore said she and other relatives had repeatedly texted and tried to call Delika’s phone, but despite the delivery she appears not to have read any of them.

Her aunt started texting her at midnight after she disappeared.

Adding that Delika’s mom is “very protective of her kids,” especially on vacation, she said, “It’s not like she goes out and does a lot of things by herself.”

Delika’s mother, Delia White, told the newspaper: “She didn’t seem upset or angry when she left – there was nothing that would have made her run away.

“I can’t think of anyone specifically who could kidnap her but everyone knows us, the whole community knows us and that I’m coming and going from the UK all the time to see my mum.

“My seven-year-old son is here too and I’m just trying to stay strong for him. Right now I don’t have the strength to even say how I feel.”

Ms White said the family began a manic search when their daughter failed to return home.

She said security cameras in the area weren’t working, making it harder to find her daughter.

After dark, Ms White said: “I started to worry as she doesn’t know the area, she doesn’t really speak the language so I think someone could have seen her or any driver could have picked her up.

“I don’t know if she went somewhere and got lost.”

Delika was last seen in a pink top and black skirt and recently had her braids removed

Delika is a British citizen from Greenford, London and visited Trinidad with her mother and brother to see her grandmother

Ms White added that when it got dark she went to the police station to make a report before driving around and looking for her all night.

She explained that her daughter visited the corner shop to buy a SIM card because she had problems with her phone during the holidays.

The shopkeeper confirmed that she had visited the shop, but she couldn’t find the card she needed and left.

Since the teenage girl’s disappearance, police have unearthed all CCTV footage and have reportedly searched nearby homes, as well as rivers and bushes, for evidence of what happened to her.

The case is being investigated by the area’s anti-kidnapping unit.

Vallence Rambharat, Captain of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team, said: “We can confirm that Delika White Lezama is still missing.

“We can also confirm that the investigation by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is ongoing.”

Delika’s older sister had taken to social media to share numerous pictures of her siblings via social media to help people recognize them.

She recently posted: “There are a few different looks she might have right now but we’re not sure if you see her or think you’ve seen her, call the police. Please.

“Been a little over 2 weeks and she is still missing. Has anyone seen or know their whereabouts?

“If you want to remain anonymous, that’s definitely an option. Family, friends and police will be following every lead at this moment.

“Could someone, anyone, please stand up with any kind of information. We are more than desperate to find her.”

Delika was wearing a pink top, black skirt and pink and white Nike Air Force sneakers at the time of her disappearance. She also wore glasses and had recently removed her pigtails.