The missing boy found in France is expected back in Britain soon

Six years after disappearing with his mother and grandfather, a 17-year-old British boy who turned up in France is expected to return home in the coming days, police said on Friday, adding that his family was “immensely relieved” at his discovery .

The boy, Alex Batty, who had not been seen since he was eleven, was found this week near Toulouse in southern Franceand is believed to have lived in the Pyrenees as part of a commune or spiritual community.

On Friday, British police declined to comment on the recent whereabouts of the teenager, his mother or grandfather, who was last seen before they went on holiday to Spain in 2017, saying they wanted to speak to Alex to establish the facts set.

“We are relieved and overjoyed to hear from French authorities that they believe Alex Batty has been found safe and well,” said Chris Sykes, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. “This is a huge moment for Alex, for his family and for the community in Oldham,” he added, referring to the boy’s birthplace close to Manchester.

The 17-year-old, who is in the custody of French authorities, spoke via video call on Thursday to his legal guardian, his grandmother Susan Caruana, who lives in Oldham.

“She has a whole range of emotions and feelings,” Mr Sykes said, adding that she was “satisfied” that the person she had spoken to was her grandson, but that police had to carry out further checks when he returned to Groot -Britain. . That is expected to happen “in the coming days,” he added.

In 2018 Mrs. Caruana said the boy and his relatives had disappeared after disagreements over how he should be cared for, and that his mother, Melanie Batty, and his grandfather David Batty had sought an alternative lifestyle with the boy after flying to Spain for a holiday. The police want to question them.

Alex was found by a delivery man, Fabien Accidini, who saw him walking in the rain in Chalabre around 2 a.m. Wednesday and stopped to give him a ride, according to a report he gave La Dépêchea local newspaper.

It was reported that the teenager had decided last week to leave the group he lived in.

“He was walking in the rain, with a skateboard under his arm and a flashlight. I offered him a ride. He wanted to go to a big city,” Mr Accidini told the newspaper.

Mr Accidini said Alex was thirsty but in good health and told him that he had been walking for four days, that he had spent some time in Spain and some time in France, and that he had been living in a spiritual community.