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Alex Batty: Teen from Oldham missing for six years found in France Alex Batty: Teen from Oldham missing for six years found in France
(about 1 hour later)
A 17-year-old boy from Oldham who went missing in Spain in 2017 has been found in France, authorities say. A 17-year-old British boy missing for six years has been found in France.
Alex Batty was found in the town of Revel, east of Toulouse, early on Wednesday morning. The prosecutors' office in Toulouse told the BBC Alex Batty was now in the care of British officials and could be back in the UK within hours.
The prosecutor's office in Toulouse told the BBC the family had confirmed the teenager's identity. Alex had been missing since 2017, but was found on Wednesday morning by a motorist who spotted him walking through rain near Toulouse.
Alex had been missing for six years after going on holiday with his mother and grandfather. He used the motorist's phone to message his grandmother in the UK, saying "I love you, I want to come home".
The mother and grandfather, who do not have parental guardianship of Alex, have not been located but remain wanted in connection with his disappearance. Alex disappeared after going on holiday with his mother and grandfather in Spain.
Alex was in a centre for minors in Toulouse on Thursday evening, awaiting the arrival of British police and consular staff who were on their way to bring him back to England. The pair, who do not have parental guardianship of Alex, have not been located but remain wanted in connection with his disappearance.
A police source told BBC News the boy had been taken to a police station by a concerned motorist who had spotted him walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees. A police source earlier told BBC News the boy had been taken to a police station by the concerned motorist who had spotted him walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees early on Wednesday morning.
The British boy said he had been in France for two years, the police source said, adding that he bore a resemblance to the last known picture of Alex.The British boy said he had been in France for two years, the police source said, adding that he bore a resemblance to the last known picture of Alex.
He had been living in the remote Pyrenean valleys, travelling about from place to place in a kind of itinerant commune.He had been living in the remote Pyrenean valleys, travelling about from place to place in a kind of itinerant commune.
The area in the foothills of the Pyrenees is known for attracting people in search of alternative lifestyles.The area in the foothills of the Pyrenees is known for attracting people in search of alternative lifestyles.
Alex won't say where his mother is or exactly where he had been living in the Pyrenees, the prosecutors' office told the BBC.Alex won't say where his mother is or exactly where he had been living in the Pyrenees, the prosecutors' office told the BBC.
His grandmother - and legal guardian - Susan Caruana told The Sun newspaper she had now been in touch with Alex.His grandmother - and legal guardian - Susan Caruana told The Sun newspaper she had now been in touch with Alex.
"I am so happy. I have spoken to him and he is well," she said. "It is such a shock.""I am so happy. I have spoken to him and he is well," she said. "It is such a shock."
Ms Caruana told the BBC in 2018 that she believed Alex's mother Melanie Batty and grandfather David Batty had taken him to live with a spiritual community in Morocco.Ms Caruana told the BBC in 2018 that she believed Alex's mother Melanie Batty and grandfather David Batty had taken him to live with a spiritual community in Morocco.
She said at the time they were seeking an alternative lifestyle and did not want Alex to go to school.She said at the time they were seeking an alternative lifestyle and did not want Alex to go to school.
Melanie and David Batty left Greater Manchester with Alex for a pre-agreed week-long holiday to Marbella in Spain on 30 September 2017.Melanie and David Batty left Greater Manchester with Alex for a pre-agreed week-long holiday to Marbella in Spain on 30 September 2017.
He was last seen at the Port of Malaga on 8 October that year, the day they were expected to return to the UK.He was last seen at the Port of Malaga on 8 October that year, the day they were expected to return to the UK.
Alex Batty, centre, disappeared with his mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David BattyAlex Batty, centre, disappeared with his mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty
In an extraordinary development on Wednesday, a delivery driver spotted Alex walking along the road carrying a backpack and skateboard and, feeling sorry for him, picked him up, a local journalist reported.In an extraordinary development on Wednesday, a delivery driver spotted Alex walking along the road carrying a backpack and skateboard and, feeling sorry for him, picked him up, a local journalist reported.
Reporter Remi Buhagiar, of La Depeche newspaper, said Alex and the driver spoke for several hours, and the boy stated he was not trapped in the commune, but decided to leave and "set his own path".Reporter Remi Buhagiar, of La Depeche newspaper, said Alex and the driver spoke for several hours, and the boy stated he was not trapped in the commune, but decided to leave and "set his own path".
Alex had been walking through the hills for days before he was picked up, Buhagiar added.Alex had been walking through the hills for days before he was picked up, Buhagiar added.
"He asked the driver if he could borrow his phone and sent a message via Facebook to his grandmother, saying he was fine and wanted to see her. He was not sure if she got the message," the journalist said."He asked the driver if he could borrow his phone and sent a message via Facebook to his grandmother, saying he was fine and wanted to see her. He was not sure if she got the message," the journalist said.
The driver, Fabien Accidini, speaking to La Depeche, said it was raining heavily when he drove past Alex late at night. On the way back, he passed Alex again and made the decision to pull over and speak to the boy.The driver, Fabien Accidini, speaking to La Depeche, said it was raining heavily when he drove past Alex late at night. On the way back, he passed Alex again and made the decision to pull over and speak to the boy.
Mr Accidini told the newspaper he had given Alex water as he had been walking for several days and was thirsty.Mr Accidini told the newspaper he had given Alex water as he had been walking for several days and was thirsty.
He said Alex was shy at first, but after establishing English as Alex's native language, he said the pair spoke for some three hours.He said Alex was shy at first, but after establishing English as Alex's native language, he said the pair spoke for some three hours.
Mr Accidini said Alex's plan had been to find a big city with an embassy to find assistance. Instead, Mr Accidini contacted French authorities for help.Mr Accidini said Alex's plan had been to find a big city with an embassy to find assistance. Instead, Mr Accidini contacted French authorities for help.
British police were contacted via the UK embassy in Paris.British police were contacted via the UK embassy in Paris.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was in touch with French authorities to put "safeguarding measures in place".Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was in touch with French authorities to put "safeguarding measures in place".
"This is a complex and long-running investigation, and we need to make further enquiries as well as putting appropriate safeguarding measures in place," a spokesperson said."This is a complex and long-running investigation, and we need to make further enquiries as well as putting appropriate safeguarding measures in place," a spokesperson said.
In a statement, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "We are supporting a British national in France and are in contact with local authorities."In a statement, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "We are supporting a British national in France and are in contact with local authorities."
Additional reporting by Chris Bockman in ToulouseAdditional reporting by Chris Bockman in Toulouse
Related TopicsRelated Topics
OldhamOldham
FranceFrance