Alex Batty, Who Went Missing in 2017 at 11, Is Finally Found 6 Years Later on a Roadside

A boy was only 11 when he went on a holiday trip with his mother and grandfather but never returned home. His grief-stricken grandmother lived through an absolute nightmare, clinging to hope and fervently praying for her grandson's safe return. Finally, after six long years, she received an unexpected message.

A British teenager, 17-year-old Alex Batty, who had been missing for six years, has been finally located in France. According to the prosecutors' office in Toulouse, Alex is currently staying at a youth center in the city and could potentially return to the UK within a short amount of time.

On the morning of Wednesday, December 13, a motorist discovered Alex walking through the rain near Toulouse and lent their phone to the teenager, who then sent a message to his grandmother in the UK, expressing his love and desire to come home.

Reports of the boy's disappearance date back to 2017, when he went on vacation with his mother and grandfather in Spain. Despite their lack of parental guardianship over Alex, the whereabouts of the pair remain unknown. Authorities are actively seeking them in connection with the teenager's prolonged absence.

Susan reluctantly agreed, not knowing that her approval would later become her biggest regret.

As per a police source, the concerned motorist, who spotted the boy on a roadside in the foothills of the Pyrenees early on Wednesday morning, took him to a police station.

The motorist, identified as delivery driver Fabien Accidini, recounted seeing Alex walking along a road in the Pyrenees' foothills in the early hours of Wednesday. According to Mr. Accidini, Alex shared that he had been walking for four days, starting from a mountainous location, though he did not specify where.

Upon typing Alex's name into the internet, Mr. Accidini discovered that the teenager was being sought by his family in the UK. Mr. Accidini, in local media reports, mentioned that Alex intended to reach a large city with an embassy to seek assistance. Instead, Mr. Accidini reached out to French authorities for help.

Alex utilized Mr. Accidini's Facebook account to contact his grandmother in the UK, conveying a heartfelt message: "Hello Grandma, it's me, Alex. I'm in France, Toulouse. I really hope that you receive this message. I love you, I want to come home."

The police source disclosed that the boy mentioned he had been in France for two years, noting a resemblance to the last known picture of Alex. During this time, he had been residing in the remote Pyrenean valleys, adopting an itinerant lifestyle within a kind of commune, moving from place to place.

The foothills of the Pyrenees have a reputation for attracting individuals seeking alternative lifestyles. However, Alex has been tight-lipped about the specifics of his mother's whereabouts or the exact locations in the Pyrenees where he had been living, as reported by the prosecutors' office.

Alex's grandmother, Susan Caruana, who serves as his legal guardian, has revealed that she has now been in contact with him. "I am so happy. I have spoken to [Alex], and he is well. It is such a shock," said an overjoyed Susan, who resides in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

In 2018, Susan revealed that Alex's mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty, had taken him to live with a spiritual community abroad, seeking an alternative lifestyle devoid of formal education. Grandma Sue described Alex as a bright and gorgeous boy with untapped educational potential—something that her daughter and ex-husband reportedly did not endorse.

The trio had departed Greater Manchester on a pre-agreed week-long holiday to Marbella in Spain on September 30, 2017. The last sighting of Alex was on October 8 that year at the Port of Malaga, the day they were expected to return to the UK.

Susan, expressing deep emotional distress on Alex's 12th birthday in February 2018, recounted her regret in allowing Alex to join his mother and grandfather on the trip to Spain. "It's an absolute nightmare...I just can't explain to anyone how it feels knowing you might never see the grandson that you love so much, you might not see him ever again," a teary-eyed Susan said at the time.

Due to her ill health, Susan had canceled her plans for a holiday in 2017, and Alex, who hadn't had a vacation that year, persistently requested to go with his mom and granddad. Susan reluctantly agreed, not knowing that her approval would later become her biggest regret.

During his stay in Spain, Susan received a phone call from Alex, but her hopes were shattered when she overheard Melanie instructing Alex to sever contact with his grandmother. "And obviously, at that point, I just knew that they're not coming back," shared Susan.

Later, Susan received a video link where Melanie, alongside David, explained their decision not to bring Alex home. The police, at that time, suspected Alex might have been taken to a Moroccan commune.

At the time, Detective Sergeant Pete Morley from GMP's Oldham borough expressed concern about Alex's well-being, citing the alternative beliefs held by Melanie and the potential lack of suitable conditions for a child. He emphasized the absence of education, healthcare, and basic check-ups that could have a long-term impact on Alex's development.

Click here to read another story about a heartbroken grandma who lost her grandson who used to share every Wednesday breakfast with her. Later, her late grandson's friends carried on the lovely tradition.