A British boy who had not been seen in Spain since he was allegedly abducted by his mother and grandfather six years ago has been found alive and well in France, prosecutors said today.
Alex Batty, from Oldham, Lancashire, was just 11 when he failed to return from a holiday in Spain with his mother Melanie, then 37, and grandfather David, then 58, in 2017.
Alex's grandmother and official guardian Susan Caruana said in 2018 that she believed her daughter and ex-husband took him abroad to live an “alternative lifestyle.”
And now, six years after his disappearance, prosecutors say Alex was found alive and well near Toulouse, France, after fleeing a “spiritual community.”
Investigators believe Alex fled the rural community and hiked through the Pyrenees for days before being picked up by a truck driver who took him to a police station in Revel, near Toulouse.
Alex Batty, from Oldham, Lancashire, was just 11 when he failed to return from a holiday in Spain with his mother Melanie, then 37, and grandfather David, then 58, in 2017
Alex Batty, from Oldham, Lancashire, was just 11 when he failed to return from a holiday in Spain with his mother Melanie, then 37, and grandfather David, then 58, in 2017
Alex Batty, from Oldham, Lancashire, was just 11 when he failed to return from a holiday in Spain in 2017 with his mother Melanie (left), then 37, and grandfather David (right), then 58
Alex flew to Malaga in September 2017 before being taken to a “spiritual community” at the foot of the Pyrenees. Investigators believe Alex fled the rural community and hiked through the Pyrenees for days before being picked up by a truck driver who took him to a police station in Revel, near Toulouse
Alex flew to Malaga airport in Spain on September 30, 2017, as part of a pre-arranged trip with Melanie – who has no legal parental authority – and David for a week-long stay in the Benahavis area, near Marbella.
But Alex, his mother and grandfather failed to come home as expected on October 8, 2017, sparking a major police investigation into the boy's apparent abduction.
Alex's heartbroken grandmother Susan, who was 62 at the time of the disappearance, said in 2018 that Melanie and David had already been living with Alex in a housing estate in Morocco in 2014 as part of an “alternative lifestyle.”
Susan, who has never given up hope of reuniting with her grandson, said she believes her daughter and ex-husband kidnapped Alex so he could live an “alternative lifestyle.”
She said at the time: “They didn’t want to.” [Alex] to go to school, they don't believe in mainstream schooling.'
Now prosecutors in southwest France are certain that Alex, now 17, showed up at a police station in Revel near Toulouse after a mammoth journey alone.
A spokesman for the French Gendarmerie said: “We can confirm that the young man found is Alex Batty. “He is doing well and is providing information.”
The spokesman said French authorities were in contact with Greater Manchester Police, who were “speaking to his family in England”.
Alex, his mother and grandfather have been living in tents and caravans in the wilderness between the Ariege and Aude departments in southern France for the past few weeks, reports La Depeche newspaper.
And last week Alex decided to flee the “spiritual community” and his mother and grandfather to the rural foothills of the Pyrenees.
For several days he hiked over mountains in the Pyrenees and passed through several villages, including Quillan in the upper Aude valley.
After a few strenuous days of hiking through the mountain region, Alex stumbled exhausted onto a road and, by a lucky coincidence, was picked up by a truck driver on Tuesday evening.
The trucker, who said the boy only spoke English, said he called police after quickly realizing Alex's situation was “abnormal.” The driver dropped Alex off in Revel, Toulouse, before the 17-year-old went to the local police station.
Alex calmly told the shocked gendarmes that he had been living in a “spiritual community” for six years and was from Britain.
And today the Toulouse public prosecutor's office confirmed that it is indeed Alex Batty.'
Alex Batty, from Oldham, Lancashire, was just 11 years old when he went missing while traveling with family members in Spain in October 2017
Alex's grandmother Susan (pictured), who was 62 at the time of the disappearance, said in 2018 that Melanie and David lived with Alex in a commune in Morocco in 2014 as part of an “alternative lifestyle.”
Initial investigations by the criminal police in collaboration with the public prosecutor's office indicate that Alex lived with his mother and grandfather in a “spiritual community” and stayed mainly in caravans and tents.
At the time of Alex's disappearance six years ago, Greater Manchester Police said “extensive investigations” had led them to believe that Alex, his mother and grandfather had left Benahavis and may have attempted to travel from the port of Malaga to Melilla in Driving to Morocco.
Officers said they believed Alex was staying with Melanie and David, who are “both at large” and wanted in connection with his abduction.
His heartbroken grandmother Susan revealed the trio had sent her a video explaining why they had left the UK to live an “alternative lifestyle”.
Recalling the day they were due to return home, Susan said in 2018: “I got this message on Facebook and it was a YouTube video of the three of them.”
“They all talked about it and Melanie gave the reasons why they did what they did.”
“Alex said it was a million times better to be with his mother and grandfather. Obviously it hurt a bit, but then my other worries surfaced.
“The reason I believe they did that is because my lifestyle, my belief systems, are basically not what they're okay with – just living everyday life like normal people do.”
“They didn’t want him to go to school, they didn’t believe in a mainstream school.”
Susan, who has said she was heartbroken by Alex's apparent kidnapping, never gave up hope of being reunited with her grandson.
On his 15th birthday, Susan begged him in a Facebook post to let her know he was safe and well.
“Happy birthday to my beautiful 15 year old grandson.” Alex, please have some compassion, I'm broken. Please just give me a sign that you're okay.
“I think every day that you are in a far away place, living the life your mother wanted for you.” I just want to know that you are still okay.
“It's been years of torture, my heart is broken.” I love you so much, I just need to know you're okay. I hope we see each other again one day. I would give anything for a hug. Grandma x'
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement released today that officers in Oldham were liaising with French authorities to establish the authenticity of reports of Alex being found.
A spokesman said: “This is a complex and lengthy investigation and we need to carry out further investigations and take appropriate protective measures.”