Cleo Smith has been found alive and well

[McOrange]

I could cry, what a huge relief for the family

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10158649/Miracle-Australias-Madeleine-McCann-ALIVE.html

Just saw this on bbc - what an amazing outcome.

Amazing news!

Very unexpected and wonderful news.

I query the 'well' part of the story though. She may be physically well, and even if treated on the surface kindly, must be massively traumatised.

Thank god

I've also just been reading this, what absolutely amazing news! I hope that her and her family receive the support they will need for however long they will need it

This is the kind of news that makes my heart glad.
Well done to the Police and all those that searched, well done 👏

@hollyhocksarenotmessy

Very unexpected and wonderful news.

I query the 'well' part of the story though. She may be physically well, and even if treated on the surface kindly, must be massively traumatised.

Yes, I agree with that. We have no idea what she’s been through and can only hope she and her family get good support to get through this

Obviously we don't know what she has been through and what the effects of that will be for her and her family. But for today, I'm just happy she looks to be pretty unscathed physically, lets face it, its more than most of us expected.

www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/03/cleo-smith-found-first-pictures-of-smiling-girl-as-australian-police-detail-moment-of-rescue

I've been keeping track of this online and am so relieved and happy that she's alive and back with her family. I hope that with time and support she gets over such a traumatic experience.

Makes my shudder just to think of it. I hope that it was ‘only’ some person wanting a little girl to look after, rather than the alternative.

I was convinced of the worst so it’s amazing she is ok. It gives hope to future missing children.

I hope nothing bad happened.
Or a Shannon matthews scenario.

The Shannon Matthews thing went through my mind too.

Something just seems really off to me about this story.

I think it’s the best news story in years . I couldn’t read about it before I felt for her family so much .
It seems a good sign too that they have shared a photograph of her and looking ok as suggests she hasn’t come to physical harm I really hope; I hope they now give the family great privacy to recover from their separation and stress

@MealyPotatoes

The Shannon Matthews thing went through my mind too.

Something just seems really off to me about this story.

@MealyPotatoes I agree 🤔

Yeah something feels a bit off and I thought of Shannon Matthews but hopefully that's not the case. And I'm sure it's something that has crossed the minds of the police too...

At least little Cleo has been found alive.

Really good news she’s been found.

I am really uncomfortable about the release of videos of the actual rescue/her being asked how she was by police before she’d even been returned to her parents, photos of her in hospital - I wish they’d protect that poor child’s privacy.

Was she in a separate tent to her mum and step dad along with her baby sister? I got that impression from a couple of articles I read. If so that seems very very odd.

@Blah1881

Was she in a separate tent to her mum and step dad along with her baby sister? I got that impression from a couple of articles I read. If so that seems very very odd.

No, she was in the same tent, but it was one of those tents with separate bedrooms.

This had me in tears this morning. Radio 4 broadcast her saying “My name is Cleo”. Just how small she sounded, I could barely drive for choking back the tears. The thought of what that poor girl might have been through - just heart destroying. I hope he rots in hell and gets a whole life term sentence.

Apparently the guy had an obsession with Bratz dolls and had a garage full of them. he also had a very elaborate online presence with dozens of facebook profiles all interacting with each other, pretending he had kids. So I guess the best case scenario is that he just wanted a little girl to play dollies with, but I guess it will all come out soon enough. At least she is home now.