By Samantha Jones-
A 17-year-old Alex Batty, (pictured) who went missing in 2017 during a holiday to Spain with his mother and grandfather, has been located in the town of Revel, near Toulouse, France.
The teenager’s disappearance puzzled authorities for six years until a chance encounter with a medical student shed light on his shocking journey.
Alex Batty disappearance and eventual appearance is extraordinary. Betty from Oldham, was 11 and under the guardianship of his grandmother Susan Caruana, when he was allegedly abducted by his mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty.
After his disappearance, Caruana said she believed her ex-partner and her daughter had run away with the boy because they wanted him to have “an alternative lifestyle”.
French prosecutors have confirmed Alex’s identity, with his family also confirming his recovery. The teenager, now 17, never returned from a trip to Spain when he was 11, sparking international appeals and leaving his legal guardian, grandmother Susan Caruana, desperate for answers.
A medical student, speaking to French media, revealed that he encountered Alex walking in heavy rain and offered him a lift. Initially providing a fake name, Alex later shared a harrowing tale with the student, stating he had been kidnapped by his mother and lived in a Spanish luxury house as part of a “spiritual community” with around 10 people.
According to the student’s account, Alex arrived in France around 2021 after spending years in the purported “spiritual community.” His original intent was to reach a big city where he could contact an embassy, but the student convinced him to go to a nearby police station.
Alex’s story unfolds as he recounts living in captivity and his quest to return to England. He disclosed details of being part of a “spiritual community” in Spain, suggesting a complex and potentially distressing situation that requires further investigation.
Greater Manchester Police, who were alerted to a possible sighting, expressed the complexity of the investigation and the need for further inquiries and safeguarding measures.
The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed their support for Alex, indicating collaboration with local authorities.
The discovery of Alex Batty in France opens a new chapter in the mystery surrounding his disappearance, providing an opportunity for authorities to closely examine into the circumstances that led to his extended absence.