2GB radio host Ben Fordham has broken down on air as he broke the shocking news that four-year-old Cleo Smith had been found “alive and well” after she had been being missing for 18 days.
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Little Cleo had disappeared while camping with her family on October 16 and was found early today on November 3 by Western Australia Police inside a Carnarvon home.
Announcing the news on his show, Ben was emotional as he explained that police had smashed their way into the locked house in the early hours of Wednesday morning and found Cleo in a room.
Fordham said the news had hit him “so hard”.
“As the father of little girls, I’m just so happy for their family,” said Ben – who has three children – Freddy, six, Pearl, five, and Goldie, two.
“I don’t know why it hits so hard it just does – when it’s a little person.”
He added, “The good news is, she is alive and well.”
In a statement, Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said police “found little Cleo in one of the rooms”.
“One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her ‘what’s your name?’
“She said – ‘My name is Cleo’.
“Cleo was reunited with her parents a short time later. This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller revealed that his WA counterpart had also broken down after hearing the happy news.
“When he got the call this morning he broke down and cried. That speaks volumes,” Ben said.
“I thought the chances of finding her alive were so slim.
“He said to me, ‘West Australian Police never gave up on Cleo’. It was good old fashion police work that resulted in her being found alive.”
Cleo has now been reunited with her family, and a Carnarvon man has been taken into custody.
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