British Teen Alex Batty, Discovered in France, Returns to the UK

British teenager Alex Batty, who disappeared in Spain in 2017, has been safely found in France and has returned to the UK, according to Greater Manchester Police.

The 17-year-old, along with his mother and grandfather, went missing six years ago during a holiday. His mother, currently missing, lacks legal custody of Alex.

Greater Manchester Police have not yet determined the exact details of his disappearance, and it is unclear if a criminal investigation will follow. Alex was discovered by a driver near Toulouse, in the French Pyrenees. He has since reunited with his family and officers at Toulouse airport and flown back to Britain.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle expressed the significance of the reunion for Alex and his family but noted that police are awaiting formal statements before commenting further. The circumstances of his disappearance remain under investigation.

Alex is thought to have lived with his mother and grandfather in various spiritual communities during his absence. They had initially left for a week-long holiday in Marbella, Spain in September 2017, and Alex was last seen in Malaga on the day they were due to return.

He reportedly spent two years intermittently at a guesthouse in La Bastide, Pyrenees, an area known for its appeal to those seeking an alternative lifestyle. Upon deciding to leave after his mother's plans to move to Finland, Alex trekked through the mountains for four days until Fabien Accidini found him and helped him contact his grandmother.

Expressing immense relief, his grandmother Susan Caruana thanked everyone involved and requested privacy for the family during this transition period.