A 4-year-old girl who went missing while camping with her family in Australia, causing national concern, has returned safely to her family after 18 days.



According to the Associated Press and CNN, Deputy Commissioner of Australian Western Police Cole Blanche said that the missing Cleo Smith, 4, was rescued safely.



"Smith is alive and well," Blanche said.



He added that an investigation is ongoing into a local man suspected of being involved in Smith's disappearance.



Police said they entered a home in the west coast town of Carnarvon and found Smith in the room.



This is the area of ​​the Smith family's home, about 47 kilometers from where Miss Smith went missing.



When a police officer at the scene asked Smith what his name was, Smith said, 'My name is Cleo,' and the identity was confirmed.



Soon, Smith was handed over to his parents, who took him into the arms of his family 19 days after his disappearance.



Deputy Director Blanche did not disclose details, including the details of the house where Smith is believed to be staying.



Smith, who went on a camping trip with his family, stayed in a tent on the second day of the trip on the 16th of last month and disappeared with a sleeping bag around 1:30-6 am.



At the time, the Smiths and their family stayed at a campground about 47 km north of Carnabon where they lived, and it is known that Smith and his brother were using a different tent than their parents.



Based on the fact that the tent zipper was raised to a height that Smith's height could not reach, the police assumed that it was a abduction rather than a simple disappearance.



In order to identify Smith's whereabouts, we have been working hard for more than two weeks, including using equipment and manpower such as helicopters and drones to search nearby areas.



On the fifth day of his disappearance, a bounty of about 743,000 dollars (about 875.25 million won) was offered for reporting about Smith's whereabouts.



Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, upon hearing the news of Smith's life, tweeted that it was "cool and reassuring news" and that "those who prayed for a safe return have been rewarded."



(Photo=Australian Western Police Facebook capture, Yonhap News)