Heartwarming images of Cleo Smith have been shared nearly three years after the young girl was miraculously rescued following a horrific abduction.
Cleo was just four years old when she was abducted from a tent on October 16, 2021 while camping with her mother, stepfather and little sister at Blowholes campground, about 960km north of Perth.
A large-scale search operation was launched in the hope of finding the little girl.
After 18 grueling days, officers raided a house in Carnarvon overnight and rescued Cleo, who was being held captive by Terence Darrell Kelly.
He was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison for the kidnapping.
Almost three years after this horrific ordeal, Cleo can be seen together with her little sister and her parents.
In the pictures shared by 60 Minutes on Wednesday, the now seven-year-old seems to have gotten used to his normal life again.
In one photo, she smiles with a pink cupcake during a birthday party and on a boat ride next to her sister Isla.
“Cleo Smith, all grown up. The seven-year-old is enjoying life in Western Australia, loves school and is a big sister to Isla,” the caption read.
The post was flooded with comments, many of which contained well wishes for the family and Cleo.
“God bless you, I’m so glad you’re living your life to the fullest,” one person wrote.
“Nice to see the family so happy and healthy,” wrote another.
Cleo’s gruesome rescue
Cleo’s story made headlines around the world when she was found after an 18-day search.
The little girl had been sleeping next to her mother Ellie Smith during a weekend family holiday at Blowholes campsite.
Mrs Smith woke up at 6 a.m. and discovered that the young girl was missing.
A search by land, air and sea found no trace of Cleo.
On November 3, police found Cleo alive and well in a locked house in Carnarvon, just minutes from her family home.
Assistant Commissioner Col Blanch said police then broke into the locked house and found the girl.
“It is an honour to announce that Western Australia Police rescued Cleo Smith in the early hours of this morning,” he said.
“Cleo is safe and sound. One of the officers took her in his arms and asked her, ‘What’s your name?’ She said, ‘My name is Cleo.'”
A short time later she was reunited with her parents.