15 December 2023 , 11:35
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In 2017 Alex Batty aged 11 left the UK for a family holiday with his mum Melanie and was due to return a month later - but instead he vanished.
Until yesterday when he was found by a member of the public his whereabouts were completely unknown and his family at home in the UK were frantic with worry. On Thursday night Alex’s identity was confirmed and now the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is working to provide travel documents for Alex’s safe return to the UK to his legal guardian, his grandmother. He was whisked away by his mother, Melanie Batty, who did not have parental guardianship, and his grandfather David Batty.
Alex was 11 when he vanished with his mother (PA)
Alex's grandmother and guardian, Sue Caruana (PA)Melanie, 43, took her son on holiday with her father but never returned. They had travelled to a Spanish island on a trip which was supposed to last three weeks but they were not heard from again until Alex’s sudden reappearance yesterday. Melanie’s current whereabouts are still unknown and so far, her son has refused to say where she is.
Alex was also with his grandfather, David Batty. The trio were said to have been living in a “spiritual community” in caravans in the Pyrenees mountains. This week a student doing part-time work as a delivery driver spotted Alex trudging along, soaked, wearing a backpack and carrying a skateboard under his arm on a rural road near Toulouse in south France. They gave him a lift and then the incredible story came out, with Alex's identity later being confirmed by French police.
Alex is expected home within days, which would mean an emotional reunion with his grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana. Susan was 62 when the trio vanished and has been frantically trying to track down the 11-year-old from Oldham, Greater Manchester, ever since. Since his discovery, she has spoken of her desperate plight to locate her grandson and is over the moon that he has been found. Speaking to following the news this week she said: “I am so happy. I have spoken to him and he is well. He is currently with the authorities in France. It is such a shock. I don't know where his mum is. It is great news. I am just waiting for him to come home, I am thrilled."
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Melanie's current whereabouts are a mystery (PA)Speaking in 2018 when she appealed for help after her family left, she said: "On the Sunday, they were due back in the afternoon and my husband was going to go and pick them up. I got this message on and it was a YouTube video of the three of them. They all spoke on it and Melanie said the reasons why they had done what they had done.”
Alex will also be reunited with his aunt Maureen, and on Thursday night she said: “I am glad he has been found because we had no idea about where he has been for the last six or seven years. I am relieved that he is safe. He is coming home next week. I don’t know where his mother or grandad are and they are not pressing Alex about it yet. Alex hasn’t had any education while out there, so we don’t know what he’ll be like when he comes home. It has affected me. Alex has had it rough. It is a mess.”
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said this morning: “I think I speak on behalf of the whole of Greater Manchester Police when I say we were relieved and overjoyed to receive news from the French Authorities they believe Alex Batty had been located safe and well, more than six years after his disappearance. This is a huge moment for Alex, for his family and for the community in Oldham.
“The young man and Alex’s Grandmother spoke on a video call last night and whilst she is content that this is indeed Alex – we obviously have further checks to do when he returns to the country.
“Our main priority now is to see Alex returned home to his family in the UK and our investigation team has been working around the clock with partner agencies to ensure they are fully supported.”