22 July 2024 , 20:30
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A British tourist who disappeared on the Spanish island of Mallorca 12 days ago has finally been found.
Ben Ross is ‘tired and drained – but alive’ after vanishing from the capital Palma.
A massive search had been launched to trace the 26-year-old, who is believed to have suffered a mental health episode after being robbed.
His mother Felix Robinson rushed to Spain to find her son, with more than £1,000 being raised through a GoFundMe to pay for her flights, accommodation and food.
That is until Ben walked into the British Consulate in Palma earlier today, his family said.
He has now been reunited with his mother, who said she is ‘so incredibly grateful for all the help and support’ she has received.
‘Everyone has been truly incredible. We are so relieved to have found him and are now focused on getting him back to full health and home safe and well,’ Felix added.
The student, from Golborne in Wigan, had not been seen since July 10. His phone, iPad, wallet and keys had been stolen while he went swimming in the sea a few days earlier.
He had travelled last month to Palma, where he found work with an energy firm during a break from his studies. He was ‘seemingly doing well’ until the incident.
After reporting the theft to police, the trainee barrister got lost trying to find his way home.
When he eventually did make it back, he had to break into the apartment because his flatmates refused to allow entry to what they thought was a stranger.
An argument ensued, leading to police being called. It is understood that police decided not to take any further action as Ben offered to pay for the damage.
Struggling to solve his money woes stemming from the theft, his mental health spiralled.
The last time his mother heard from Ben was an email ‘which confirmed his mental state was not in a good place, before he cut off communications with her completely’.