Fears are mounting for the safety of a nine-year-old girl who went missing after being taken to hospital in need of “urgent” treatment.
Police have issued a plea for information after the child vanished from St Mary's hospital in Paddington shortly after arriving for medical care on Sunday evening.
Doctors believe the girl could be diabetic and have warned she could fall into a coma if not treated urgently.
Scotland Yard said the girl attended the hospital – along with her parents and a younger brother - at around 5.40pm after she fell ill.
UPDATE: Police said the girl has now been found.
But the family left two hours later before the girl, believed to have a high blood sugar count, could receive treatment.
Officers said that the girl’s parents had told medics their child's name was Mashael Aldosari.
A police statement said: "Detectives are unsure if this is the child's real name as the family provided a false address to staff.
"Police know very little about the family as the adults did not provide their names to staff at the hospital. All four left the hospital at 7.44pm.
"At this early stage detectives believe that the family could be from Kuwait.
"They are believed to have told medical staff that they had travelled to the UK in order for their son to receive hospital treatment. Inquiries have established that this is may not be the case.
"It is not known when the family entered the country and inquires continue with other agencies.
"Given the circumstances, detectives are urgently seeking the young girl in order for her to receive medical treatment."
Mashael is described as being less than 5ft and has long, straight black hair. She was last seen wearing a grey top, leggings and light coloured shoes.
The man, believed to be her father, is described as having a heavy build and has short black hair receding at the front and a the woman, thought to be the child’s mother, was wearing a black burka.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or via Twitter @MetCC.
