National
Missing WA girl Cleo Smith smiles and waves in first photo since her rescue
The first photo of missing Cleo Smith has been released by police after she was dramatically rescued 18 days after disappearing from a remote WA campsite.
The striking image of Cleo, four, in hospital in a photo was released by police, hours after she was found.
It shows a smiling Cleo, covered with a blanket, lying on a bed while eating an icy pole.
READ MORE: Four-year-old Cleo Smith found alive after vanishing three weeks ago
LIVE UPDATES: Cleo Smith found – latest developments
She’s waving at the camera and appears happy and healthy.
Her mother, Ellie Smith, wrote on social media Cleo has seen the photo and “thought it was beautiful”.
The mum was responding to a post on a Facebook page for Carnarvon, where somebody suggested the town should take down the missing Cleo posters now she has been found.
READ MORE: Police detail how Cleo Smith was rescued.
“Cleo has seen her photo she thought it was beautiful,” Ms Smith wrote.
Her mother had posted repeatedly on social media pleading for the return of her child.
Earlier today she expressed her joy in an Instagram post, showing a photo of Cleo and a caption which read: “Our family is whole again”.
READ MORE: Nation weeps and celebrates as little Cleo found ‘alive and well’
CLEO SMITH FOUND: WHAT WE KNOW
· At 12.46am (AWST) overnight, police broke into a locked home in Carnarvon, Western Australia, where four-year-old Cleo Smith was found alive and well.
· A 36-year-old man was found not far from the home, and has been taken into custody. He is assisting police with inquiries.
· Police have said the man has no connection with Cleo Smith’s family.
· Investigators were acting on information received that night, but it has not been disclosed yet what led them to that address.
· Cleo has been reunited with her family.
READ MORE: Cleo Smith rescue makes front pages all over the world
Tonight on Channel 9 at 8.40pm Finding Cleo: A Nine News Special will have all the latest updates from a remarkable day.
Watch live on Channel Nine or 9Now here
