British Teenager Found in France After 6 Years Missing
It has been reported that British teenager Alex Batty, who went missing six years ago, has been found in France and is expected to return home to the UK in the coming hours.
Alex disappeared in 2017 while on holiday in Spain with his mother and grandfather. His mother, who does not have parental guardianship, has been missing as her current whereabouts are unknown.
The 17-year-old was found on Wednesday by a motorist near Toulouse in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. French officials stated that Alex had been living a nomadic lifestyle with his mother and grandfather in spiritual communities for the past few years. However, he decided to leave when his mother wanted to go to Finland.
After walking through the mountainous terrain of southern France for four days, Alex was found by a delivery driver who helped him contact his legal guardian, his grandmother Susan Caruana, based in Oldham.
In a statement issued by Greater Manchester Police, Caruana expressed her relief and happiness at Alex being found safe and well. She also requested privacy for the family as they prepare for his return.
Locals in the small hamlet of La Bastide in the Pyrenees where Alex had been staying said he was living with his grandfather, who did odd jobs in the area, while his mother was in a neighboring region. French police reported that Alex told them his grandfather had died about six months ago, but three locals contradicted this saying they had seen his grandfather alive as recently as last week.
The circumstances surrounding Alex’s disappearance and his experiences during the six years he was missing remain unclear. Additional reporting by Chris Bockman and Lisa Louis has provided some insight into the situation, but many questions still remain unanswered.