Madeleine McCann's parents react to Cleo news: 'HOPE'

The disappearance of Cleo Smith has not only captivated Australia but also the rest of the world and has reportedly given one family hope their daughter is found.

On Wednesday morning, police broke into a Carnarvon home and rescued four-year-old Cleo, after she disappeared on October 16 at the Blowholes campsite.

While Cleo was missing, some comparisons have been drawn between her case and the case of Madeleine McCann, with some international outlets saying she was dubbed "Australia's Maddie".

Madeleine vanished from her holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in 2007 and despite efforts, she remains missing.

A source told The Sun, Kate and Gerry McCann, had been following Cleo's case and were "willing" for her safe return.

Cleo being rescued has reportedly given Madeleine's parents hope.

"Kidnapped children can be found, this case is proof and gives Kate and Gerry and all those other families of missing people hope," the source said.

“They never stop hoping for that happy and positive news."

The source also told The Sun the McCanns are thankful Cleo was found alive and they "share her parents' joy and relief at the outcome".

Madeleine was just three-years-old when she was last seen. She would now be 18-years-old.

The parents of both girls have also been subject to similar treatment.

In the just over two weeks Cleo was missing, there were reports people were abusing mother Ellie Smith and step father Jake Gliddon online.

The abuse came despite police saying multiple times they were not suspects in the case, with online remarks widely condemned by police and even WA Premier Mark McGowan.

• 'Lots of tears': Cleo's emotional reunion with parents after 18-day ordeal

• ‘Really relieved’: Cleo’s rescue ‘means everything’ to Carnarvon community

• Minutes from home: The suburban house where Cleo was found locked up

• The five-word reaction from Cleo Smith’s mum after little girl found

In the years since Madeleine disappeared, there have been theories suggesting her parents were somehow involved.

In 2017, Mr and Ms McCann said they were still facing online abuse, The Independent reported.

More work to be done after 'remarkable' rescue

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Associate Professor of Criminology and forensic anthropologist at the University of Newcastle Dr Xanthé Mallet said Cleo being found alive was unexpected and remarkable.

“This is just remarkable stuff to be honest with you, after 19 days I did not expect this outcome,” she said.

“This is once in a million, once in a million.

“We see child abductions all the time and everyone was concerned it was going to be the next William Tyrrell.”

While Cleo has now been reunited with her family and a 36-year-old man is in custody, detectives still have work ahead of them.

On Wednesday, Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the 140-strong taskforce investigating Cleo's disappearance would continue its work.

"We will be working through this for the next week or two at least," he told reporters in Carnarvon.

"There's much more work yet to be done. But I'm just the proudest police commissioner in the world at the moment."

The 36-year-old man who is a suspect in Cleo's disappearance has no connection to Cleo or her family and he was not at the home when Cleo was found by police.

The man is also not on a list of known sex offenders in Carnarvon.

Cleo was examined in hospital and found to be in good physical health.

Police shared a photograph of her smiling and waving from her hospital bed after reuniting with her mother Ellie Smith and Ms Smith's partner, Jake Gliddon.

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