A four-year-old Australian girl who disappeared from a campsite 18 days ago was found "alive and well" in a locked house, telling police officers: "My name is Cleo."
Cleo Smith disappeared from her family's tent in Western Australia last month, sparking a frantic air, sea and ground search involving 100 officers.
The little girl was found alone inside a locked house in the coastal town of Carnarvon, a short drive away from where she disappeared, Western Australia police said.
"One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?'" police deputy commissioner Col Blanch said.
"She said 'My name is Cleo'."
The moment Cleo was rescued 👏 pic.twitter.com/arusYi9kCa
— WA Police Force (@WA_Police) November 3, 2021
Police detained a 36-year-old local man with no connection to the family after breaking into the house at about 1am local time.
The young girl was reunited with her parents a short time later, with her mother Ellie Smith taking to social media to express her relief.
"Our family is whole again," she posted on Instagram under a photo of Cleo.
Police last month had offered Aus$1 million for information leading to Cleo's recovery after she was feared abducted from her family's tent at the remote Blowholes campsite - about 1,000km north of Perth - on 16 October.
Ms Smith had earlier described her distress at waking at 6am to find the family's tent unzipped and her oldest daughter missing.
Her public pleas for help to bring Cleo home had prompted an outpouring of support from across Australia.
"What a great day. We now have returned Cleo to her loving parents. It's a wonderful day for this little girl and her loving family," State Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told media.
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A team of 140 people had been working on the case with police fielding more than 1,000 tips from the public.
Police said the abduction appeared to have been opportunistic and they expected to file charges later in the day.
"She is physically OK. That was evident from the start," said state police homicide squad Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine, who was one of four people to rescue Cleo.
"Taking her to the hospital we got assurance of that from people that know what they are doing."
He said finding her was "without a doubt" the best moment of his career.
"She is a very sweet, energetic girl, very trusting and very open with us," he said.
Footage released by police showed the moment the girl was carried out of the house, her arms around a policeman.
After introducing himself, Sgt Blaine asked her: "Are you OK? We are going to take you to see your Mummy and Daddy, OK? Is that good?" to which she smiled and nodded.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also welcomed the "wonderful, relieving news".
"Cleo Smith has been found and is home safe and sound. Our prayers answered," Mr Morrison said on Twitter
State premier Mark McGowan expressed elation at receiving the news overnight.
He first received a call at 1.38 am, but sheepishly admitted: "I didn't answer it, I was asleep." Still, within a few hours, he had received a "lovely" image of the girl smiling from a hospital bed.
"There will be movies made about this," he said. "You never know what to expect, you hope for the best, but you prepare for the worst."
"It's great to provide the country with positive news."
4-year-old girl found 'alive and well' in Western Australia 18 days after she disappeared | Read more: https://t.co/eu5hzpkmGQ pic.twitter.com/J219IHGDYZ
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 3, 2021
Deputy Commissioner Blanch told local radio that he saw "seasoned detectives openly crying with relief" after Cleo was found, calling the rescue "just incredible".
"It's very rare. It's something we all hoped in our hearts, and it's come true," he said.
While police used human intelligence, surveillance footage and forensic analysis to find the girl, scores of volunteers scoured nearby bushland for clues.
Investigators had been determined they "were not going to leave any stone unturned", even as the search dragged on, Western Australia police commissioner Chris Dawson said.
"We had been following a lot of the forensic leads and it led us to a particular house," he told ABC radio. "We put everything we had at it."
"Hope was never lost and the fact she's been found alive, I think Australia is rejoicing. It is such a wonderful outcome."
Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said at the time of her disappearance that the investigation "leads us to believe that she was taken from the tent", and that authorities had reason to fear for her safety.
Police praised the family for their strength through the ordeal, while thanking the local community and volunteers for their help in the search.
Mr McGowan also paid tribute to the family and expressed solidarity.
"Can I finally also acknowledge Ellie and Jack, Cleo's parents, they have been through a lot in the last 18 days, terrible trauma, some vicious attacks, and some, no doubt, very trying and sad times. To them, and all of our thoughts go to them."
