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Camper who went missing in Arizona found alive

COCONINO COUNTY, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - A camper who went missing over the weekend in Arizona has been found alive at the bottom of a cliff.

"She's alive, though, in that...I don't know We thought she wasn't...It's like a miracle," said Sarah Banda, sister of missing camper.

A miracle after days of searching. Banda says her sister Janelle was found alive.

"My parents have been up there, searching relentlessly. Other family members have gone," Banda shared.

Janelle had gone missing Friday in a remote area near Sedona called Edge of the World. It's mountainous with lots of cliffs and ravines that drop hundreds of feet. No direct roads there miles from civilization.

Janelle's family says she went camping there with her dad.

"I don't necessarily know about camping that would if that would be the case, it's more of a new hobby. I would say, I know that she's always been a hiker, though she loves the trails. I know she's done South Mountain, here in the valley, a lot, right?" Banda said.

But Friday night, she walked away from the campsite. After that, the search went on for days.

However, at around noon Monday, Janelle's family got word she'd been found at the bottom of one of these cliffs alive, but hurt.

While an NBC affiliate in Phoenix does not know the extent of her injuries yet, Janelle's family says they're just happy to know she's okay.

"She loves wholeheartedly, and you know she will do anything for those that she loves and cares about. I couldn't imagine my life without her, and I'm so happy that I get to still have more time with her," Banda expressed.

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Article Topic Follows: Arizona News

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Dillon Fuhrman

If you have any story ideas, reach out to him at dillon.fuhrman@kecytv.com.

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Scott Gross

Scott Gross joins the KYMA team as the Anchor, CBS Sports Director, and Executive Producer.

Contact him at scott.gross@kecytv.com.

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