JAKARTA - A four-year-old girl who had been missing for 18 days in a remote part of Western Australia has been found alive and well in a locked house, police said.
Cleo Smith disappeared from her family's tent at a campsite near the City of Carnarvon, Western Australia on October 16, sparking a massive search effort.
Citing the BBC 3 November, police broke into a locked house in Carnarvon at 01:00 local time, where they found Cleo. A 36-year-old man from Carnarvon was detained and questioned by police.
"A team of police broke into a locked house. They found little Cleo in one of the rooms," West Australia Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said in a statement Wednesday.
"One of the officers lifted him into his arms and asked 'What's your name?' He said 'My name is Cleo'," he added.
The four-year-old has now been reunited with his parents, who have been making desperate and emotional pleas for Cleo's return since her disappearance.
"Our family is whole again," wrote Ellie Smith, Cleo's mother on Instagram.
Police said the man detained had no ties to the Smith family.
"We will talk more about Cleo's rescue as time goes on," Deputy Commissioner Blanch said.
Previously, the authorities had offered a reward of 1 million Australian dollars or the equivalent of 750,000 US dollars for information about Cleo's whereabouts.
Australian PM Scott Morrison, who is now on his way home from attending the COP26 climate summit in Scotland, tweeted that it was great news and relief.
Please note, Cleo Smith's family was on the first night of their vacation at Quobba Blowholes campground, when she went missing between 1:30 and 06:00 on October 16.
The remote site at Macleod, about 900km (560 miles) north of Perth, is a local attraction on the state's Coral Coast - known for its breezy ocean views, sea caves and lagoons.
Cleo had been sleeping on the air mattress next to her little sister's bed. When her mother, who had been sleeping in the second room of the tent, woke up in the morning, Cleo had already left and the tent door was open.
Cleo's mysterious disappearance sparked an extensive air, land and sea search, with additional police resources dispatched to the site from the state capital, Perth.
The case has attracted international attention, with reports of bounty hunters having traveled to the region to join the search after cash prizes were offered.
The news that Cleo had been found alive and well sparked a great sense of relief in the local community.
Carnarvon Shire president Eddie Smith told Australia's 2GB radio: "For 18 days we were filled with anxiety and worry. I'm a little emotional at the moment."
Separately, Deputy Commissioner Blanch told 6PR radio it was "amazing to see the seasoned detective openly cry with relief".
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