Ben Fordham fought back tears while making the announcement that missing girl Cleo Smith has been found alive and well.
The four-year-old girl was found in a locked house in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 19 days after she first disappeared.
After announcing the breaking news live on 2GB on Wednesday morning, Fordham said the rescue hit close to home.
“As the father of little girls, I’m just so happy for their family,” Fordham said, struggling to contain his emotions.
“And I don’t know why it’s hit me so hard but it just does I suppose, when it’s a little person.
“The good news is, she is alive and well.”
Fordham shares three children with wife Jodie Speers: Freddy, six, Pearl, five, and Goldie, two.
Ben Fordham with his daughter Goldie. Image: @benfordham9 / Instagram
He later took to Twitter to share the news, writing: “Wow. Just wow.
“We love you Cleo.
“Everyone is crying – even the boss of WA police.”
Wow. Just wow.
We love you Cleo.
Everyone is crying – even the boss of WA Police. https://t.co/QxSlLVUH1L— Ben Fordham (@BenFordham) November 2, 2021
He broke the news shortly after WA Police confirmed that Cleo had been found in a home in Carnarvon.
“Cleo was reunited with her parents a short time later,” Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said in a statement.
“This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.”
Fordham shared Blanch’s relief and explained how officers feared the worst for the little girl.
“They’d been searching, they’ve been using drones, helicopters, going through dash-cam footage, they’ve searched dams fearing that the little girl was dead,” Fordham said.
“Fantastic news out of Western Australia.”
Image: @benfordham9 / Instagram, @elliejaydee23 / Instagram
This article first appeared on Over60.