West Australian police have found missing Cleo Smith, aged 4, “alive and well”.
The girl had vanished from her family’s tent at the Quobba Blowholes Campground in Macleod, Western Australia, since 16 October.
After a frantic search, officers broke into a home in Canarvon, a town 900km north of Perth, at 1am (local time). They found little Cleo in one of the rooms belonging to a man who has no connection to the Smith family.
WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col blanch released the news to the media on Wednesday morning.
“It’s my privilege to announce that in the early hours of this morning, the Western Australia Police Force rescued Cleo Smith,” Detective Blanch said.
“A police team broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon about 1am. They found little Cleo in one of the rooms.
“One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her ‘what’s your name?’ She said ‘My name is Cleo’.”
The police searched the house following a tip-off, and the little girl was found there alone.
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Detective Blanch said that the outcome was one “we all hoped and prayed for” and he praised “some incredible police work”.
The toddler is now with her family.
“I want to thank Cleo’s parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers. And of course, I want to thank my colleagues in the Western Australia Police Force,” Detective Blanch said.
“We’ll have more to say on the rescue of Cleo as the day unfolds. For now, welcome home Cleo.”
Ellie Smith, Cleo’s mother, posted a photo on social media with the caption, “Our family is whole again.”
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is in Glasgow attending the COP26 climate summit, expressed his relief that the toddler had been found
“Our prayers have been answered,” he tweeted.
