At the age of 11, British teen Alex Batty had gone missing in Spain while he was on a holiday with his family in 2017. Six years later, after being found in France, Batty has finally returned to his home in UK on Sunday.
However, the police are yet to fully establish the reason behind the teen vanishing. Batty, who was “abducted” by his mother was found on Wednesday. Reportedly, Batty went along with his mother Melanie and grandfather David on an agreed vacation to Spain in September 2017.
According to Greater Manchester Police, Batty have been living a nomadic lifestyle in spiritual communities with his mother. According to French officials, he wanted to leave when his mother wanted to go to Finland.
It was a motorist, who spotted the boy walking along the road in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, near Toulouse.
At a press conference, GMP Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said Alex was met at Toulouse airport by a family member and specially-trained officers earlier, before flying back to the UK.
"This moment was undoubtedly huge for him and his loved ones and we're glad that they have been able to see each other again after all this time," said ACC Boyle.
"We are yet to fully establish the circumstances behind his disappearance...we will speak with him at a pace he is comfortable," he added.
The boy was last seen at the Port of Malaga on 8 October in 2017, the day they were expected to return to the UK. There are still no whereabouts of his mother and grandfather. However, reports said that his grandfather died about six months ago.
It is understood that, since 2017, Alex had been living in the remote Pyrenean valleys, travelling about from place to place in a kind of itinerant commune, reported BBC.
The area in the foothills of the Pyrenees is known for attracting people in search of alternative lifestyles. Reportedly, Alex was staying at a guesthouse on and off in Pyrenees on and off for the past two years.
Alex is believed to have walked through the mountainous terrain of southern France for four days before being found by the motorist during the night.
The driver, Fabien Accidini, said he lent the teenager his phone and let him use his Facebook account to contact his grandmother, Susan Caruana.
"I cannot begin to express my relief and happiness that Alex has been found safe and well," she said in a statement issued by police on Friday.
She added it was "so good to hear his voice and see his face again". Barry has finally reunited with his grandmother in UK after long days of travel and despair.
