Girl, four, is found alive after 18 days
A GIRL of four who vanished from a campsite more than a fortnight ago has been found safe after police raided a house 46 miles away.
Cleo Smith’s disappearance from remote coastal camp ground Quobba Blowholes in Western Australia on October 16 triggered a huge search.
Police yesterday found Cleo in a room after they broke into a locked house in Carnarvon at 1am.
A man has been taken into custody.
Western Australia force deputy commissioner Col Blanch said: “One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her, ‘What’s your name?’ She said, ‘My name is Cleo’.
“This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.”
Mr Blanch would not give further details but praised “incredible police work” that led to Cleo’s rescue.
Australia’s prime minister
Scott Morrison tweeted: “Our prayers answered. Thank you to the many police officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family.”
Cleo was last seen 18 days ago at 1.30am after asking for water. When her mother Ellie woke at 6am, the family’s tent was open and Cleo was gone, along with her sleeping bag.
Cleo had been sleeping on a mattress next to her younger sister Isla’s cot in a separate area to her parents when she disappeared.
Superintendent Rod Wilde, who led the police task force, expressed “grave fears” for Cleo’s safety at the time.
Authorities launched a land, sea and air search and the Western Australia state government offered a reward of more than £500,000 – one million Australian dollars – for information leading to Cleo’s return.