Police in Australia have released video footage of the moment a four-year-old girl who disappeared from a campsite 18 days ago was found ‘safe and well.’
A major search has been underway in Western Australia since Cleo Smith disappeared from her family’s tent in the remote Blowholes campsite.
She was found alone inside a locked house in the town of Carnarvon overnight – just a hort drive from where she first went missing.
A 36-year-old local man has been arrested.
The moment Cleo was rescued 👏 pic.twitter.com/arusYi9kCa
— WA Police Force (@WA_Police) November 3, 2021
In a statement, Western Australia Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said police broke into the property at around 1am.
“They found little Cleo in one of the rooms,” he said.
“One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her ‘what’s your name?’
“She said: ‘My name is Cleo.’”
The miracle we all hoped for. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zOd5WDTA1A
— WA Police Force (@WA_Police) November 3, 2021
He said Cleo was reunited with her parents a short time later.
“This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for,” he said.
“It’s the outcome we’ve achieved because of some incredible police work.
“I want to thank Cleo’s parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers.”
Cleo’s mother Ellie Smith posted a picture of her eldest daughter of Instagram with the caption: “Our family is whole again.”
View this post on Instagram
Police had offered a AUS$1m reward for information to leading to Cleo’s recovery after she was feared abducted from the campsite.
Deputy Commissioner Blanch confirmed the arrest of a man from Carnarvon who he said is currently being questioned by detectives.
