Teen informed investigators he spent six years dwelling a nomadic way of life in Spain, Morocco and France.
A British teenager who went lacking for six years earlier than turning up in France has arrived again in the UK, police have stated.
Alex Batty by no means returned dwelling after travelling to Spain in 2017 together with his mom and grandfather for what was speculated to be a two-week household vacation.
The then 11-year-old boy’s disappearance sparked unsuccessful appeals for details about his whereabouts – till he turned up final week strolling alongside a highway late at night time in southern France.
“It gives me great pleasure to say Alex has now made his safe return back to the UK after six years,” Matt Boyle of Higher Manchester Police informed reporters on Saturday.
Boyle stated police are but to completely set up the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and whether or not a legal investigation is warranted.
Boyle stated that officers, who’re looking for to find his mom Melanie Batty, would converse to the teenager “at a pace that feels comfortable to him”.
Batty, now 17, will return to his maternal grandmother, Susan Caruana, whom a British courtroom entrusted together with his custody earlier than he vanished.
Caruana requested that the household be granted area to course of the information.
“I cannot begin to express my relief and happiness that Alex has been found safe and well,” she stated in an announcement issued by way of British police.
“The main thing is that he’s safe, after what would be an overwhelming experience for anyone, not least a child.”
Batty informed French officers he spent the previous six years dwelling a nomadic way of life together with his mom and grandfather in Spain, Morocco and France as a part of a “spiritual community”.
He stated the household grew their very own meals, meditated and contemplated esoteric topics comparable to reincarnation.
A physician who examined Batty stated the teenager was wholesome and didn’t seem to have suffered any abuse.
French prosecutor Antoine Leroy informed reporters on Friday that Batty had determined to go away his household after his mom stated she wished to maneuver to Finland, the place she is “likely” to be now.