The parents of Cleo Smith have released a new statement following the successful rescue of their four-year-old daughter.
Per The Independent, Cleo went missing on October 16 after she was allegedly abducted from her family’s tent during a stay at a coastal campsite in Western Australia.
And despite Western Australia Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch describing the search for the missing child as a "needle in a haystack", Cleo was found alive 18 days later on November 3 after police raided a house in the Australian town of Carnarvon.
On the day of her discovery, police arrested 36-year-old Terence Darrell Kelly and he was later charged with forcibly or fraudulently taking or enticing a child under 16, BBC News reports.
Speaking about her discovery, Commissioner Chris Dawson said: "There were lots of things, that when we put the puzzle together it all led to one place, and that's where we found Cleo."
Now, Cleo's parents have released a statement, per news.com.au, regarding the news that their family is now "whole again".
In the statement, Cleo’s mother, Ellie Smith, and stepfather, Jake Gliddon, revealed how the family were "humbled by the love and support" they have received, from "not only our local community but the whole of Western Australia and across the country."
It continued: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in the rescue of our daughter Cleo Smith."
"In particular, we would like to thank WA Police, all those involved in the initial search, the Carnarvon community, local businesses, and of course our family and friends," the statement added.
The parents shared how they "are so thankful" that Cleo has been returned to them, adding: "Our family is whole again."
"As we try to get on with our lives, we ask that you respect our privacy," the statement concluded.
Speaking to reporters about the moment Cleo was rescued, Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine said at a press conference on Wednesday: "I just wanted to be absolutely sure that, it certainly looks like Cleo, I wanted to be sure it was her.
"I said, ‘What is your name?’ She didn’t answer, I said ‘What’s your name?’ and she didn’t answer again. So I asked her a third time and then she looked at me and said, ‘My name is Cleo.’"
Blaine continued: "Then we turned around and walked out of the house. Not long after that, we got into the car and the officer I was with called Cleo's parents and said 'we've got someone here that wants to speak to you.'
"It was a wonderful feeling to make that call. They were ecstatic."
