Sean Kenny said his family was overwhelmed by the support from the community and emergency services who helped look for his 15-year-old daughter Grace.

Mr Kenny said he, his wife and four kids had been camping with friends at Shipwreck Bay Holiday Park, something they have done each summer for the past few years, when Grace decided to go for a ride about 4pm.

He said Grace, who has Down syndrome, was very independent and it wasn’t unusual for her to go for a ride on her own.

However, when she hadn’t returned by about 6.30pm, Mr Kenny called the police.

Her bike was found abandoned on Hickford Parade near Granny’s Grave.

“In the meantime two teams of SES volunteers and police and 300 or 400 people on bikes had got out and about looking for her,” Mr Kenny said.

Grace was found about two hours later about 5km east of the Hopkins River “about as far as you can go on Logan’s Beach”, he said.

“We were pretty overwhelmed by the response,” Mr Kenny said.

He said the way the police officers involved handled the situation was exceptional.

“We’re very, very happy and proud of the Warrnambool community,” he said.

He also thanked the many members of the North Warrnambool Football Netball Club who turned out to help with the search.