16.Ī massive land and sea search was initially mounted in the sparsely populated region on the assumption that she had wandered from the tent. “This particular case, obviously, has captured the hearts of Australians as we felt such terrible sorrow for the family,” he added.Ĭleo’s family lives in Carnarvon, a community of 5,000 people, and the girl had disappeared with her sleeping bag on the second day of a family camping trip at Blowholes Campground, 75 kilometers (47 miles) north of Carnarvon, on Oct. The fact that that nightmare has come to an end and our worst fears were not realized is just a huge relief, a moment for great joy,” Morrison told reporters. Prime Minister Scott Morrison reacted from the United Arab Emirates on his way home from Scotland, thanking police for finding Cleo and supporting her family. I won’t go into any more details, other than to say we’re so thankful she’s alive.”ĭawson said “dogged, methodical police work” led to her being found. She is “as well as you can expect,” Dawson said. Western Australia state Police Commissioner Chris Dawson would not detail what the girl had gone through. “Our family is whole again,” the mother said on social media. The girl was reunited with her mother Ellie Smith and stepfather Jake Gliddon soon after her rescue. Officials wept with relief after seeing body camera video of a police officer scooping up the girl, Cleo Smith, and hearing her say, “My name is Cleo.” A 36-year-old local man was arrested after the late-night raid at the house in the coastal town of Carnarvon, which followed a tip to police on Tuesday.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Police smashed their way into a suburban house on Wednesday and rescued a 4-year-old girl whose disappearance from her family’s camping tent on Australia’s remote west coast more than two weeks ago both horrified and captivated the nation.