By Ben Kerrigan-
A teenager who disappeared six years ago during a family holiday to Spain, has returned to the UK, revealing his motivations for the daring escape from his unconventional nomadic lifestyle.
Alex Batty (pictured) was found walking in France six years after going missing.
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.
The teen, now aged 17, expressed his longing for a more ordinary existence, stating, “I had an argument with my mum, and I just thought I’m gonna leave because I can’t live with her.” He described his mother as a great person but not a great mum.
Alex’s journey, dubbed “Le Great Escape,” saw him walk 22 miles over two days, marking the culmination of six years of wandering across Europe.
He walked for 22 miles over two days before a delivery driver spotted him carrying a skateboard at 3am and stopped for him, concerned.
Alex Batty spoke out about how his escape after walking for miles Image: The Sun
His decision to leave was triggered by a clash with his mother, Melanie, 43, and grandad David, 64, who had been his primary companions during their nomadic journey through the French Pyrenees.
He said doubts about his mother and grandfather’s nomadic lifestyle began when he was “14 or 15 years old
Last week, a delivery driver in France spotted Alex carrying a skateboard at 3 am and offered him assistance. The driver allowed Alex to use his phone to message his legal guardian, Susan Caruana, 68, saying, “Hello grandma ils(sic) me alex please pick up.” Subsequently, the driver took Alex to a police station.
After six years on the run, Alex’s abrupt decision to return came with a hastily scribbled note to his mum, realizing that the nomadic lifestyle was no way to live. He assured his mother that she shouldn’t worry, as he was capable of looking after himself.
Last Saturday, the missing teenager was reunited with Susan at her home in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Alex’s persuasion had recently prompted Melanie to move to a rented farmhouse nearer civilization, away from the mountains.
However, the allure of a stable home life wore thin for Alex, who grew tired of the constant relocations and working alongside his grandfather in exchange for food and rent. Despite his journey, Alex had made just one friend his own age – a Spanish girl he met in a cafe during his years of wandering.
Education on the Road
Remarkably, Alex never attended school a single day during his six-year odyssey. Instead, he engaged in self-directed learning, acquiring language skills and studying maths and computing whenever he stumbled upon a textbook. His unorthodox education continued despite his nomadic lifestyle.
In his first interview with The Sun , Alex explained how his yearning for a more conventional life surfaced around the age of 14 when he started questioning the nomadic existence imposed by his mother. As his aspirations of becoming a computer software engineer grew, he realized that the lifestyle he envisioned was incompatible with his dreams.
“I realized it wasn’t a great way to live for my future. The cloud had lifted because I started weighing everything up again — the pros and cons of England,” Alex explained in an interview with The Sun newspaper.
Concerned about the trajectory of his life if he stayed with his mother, he envisioned a monotonous life of constant movement, devoid of friends, social life, or education – a stark contrast to his dreams.
Grandad David emerged as a crucial figure in Alex’s decision-making process. At 16, Alex expressed his desire to return to England, a decision opposed by his mother, who held strong anti-government and anti-vax sentiments.
Grandad David, a more receptive listener, supported Alex’s desire to pursue what was best for him. David’s reassurance that he wanted Alex to be happy and healthy with a roof over his head became a guiding principle for the teenager.
The escape has brought to the forefront the challenges of unconventional family dynamics and the impact of personal choices on each member.