A teenage girl who was “abducted” managed to flee across the Pyrenees mountains after her mother allegedly planned to move to Finland.

After being gone for six years, a British teenager managed to leave a “spiritual community” in France when his mother declared her plans to travel to Finland.

In 2017, it is said that Alex Batty was taken without permission by his mother Melanie Batty and his grandfather David Batty while they were on a trip to Spain. This left the boy’s legal guardian and grandmother Susan Caruana at their residence in Oldham.

Ms. Caruana will soon be reunited with her grandson, who is now 17 years old. Alex was discovered walking in the French Pyrenees early Wednesday morning, carrying only a skateboard and €100 in cash.

“I am incredibly relieved and happy to share that Alex has been located and is safe,” she stated on Friday. “I had the opportunity to speak with him last night, and it brought me so much joy to hear his voice and see his face. I eagerly look forward to our reunion.”

Antoine Leroy, Assistant Public Prosecutor in Toulouse, stated at a press conference on Friday that Alex had fled following his mother’s decision to take him to Finland. The adolescent informed officials that his grandfather had passed away six months prior.

According to Mr. Leroy, the three individuals had been leading a nomadic way of life in spiritual communities located in Spain, Morocco, and France. They disappeared while on vacation near Marbella six years ago.

According to Mr. Leroy, when his mother mentioned leaving for Finland, the young man realized that this situation needed to come to an end. As a result, he chose to depart from the place he was with his mother and walked continuously for four days and four nights.

“He carried €100 with him and was attempting to reach Toulouse without encountering many individuals. This is why he traveled at night and slept during the day.”

The adolescent, reported to be fatigued but physically well, informed authorities that his mother had a fear of solar panels.

Mr. Leroy stated that Alex did not mention any instances of physical violence, but instead spoke about emotional abuse. The mother had a fear of solar panels, so they had to constantly move from house to house with solar panels.

According to Mr. Leroy, the community they resided in had a strong emphasis on spirituality and meditation, with no ties to the outside world.

Alex evaded capture by trekking for four consecutive days, traveling under the cover of darkness and resting during daylight hours to elude detection. Despite his efforts, on Wednesday at 2am, Fabien Accidini, a delivery driver, noticed the weary young man and gave him a ride to the authorities in Revel, a town near Toulouse.

Chiropractic student Mr. Accidini shared that the man had been walking for four days, starting from a mountainous location that was not specified. After searching his name online, he discovered that the man was being searched for.

Ms Caruana requested privacy as she anticipated the return of Alex. She also emphasized the importance of his safety, especially after such a daunting experience for a child.

Despite this, certain members of the family are concerned about how Alex will handle being away from home for such an extended period of time. His aunt, Maureen Batty, expressed her worries to The Daily Mail, stating that Alex has been influenced by the religious group that David was a part of. She also mentioned that he has not received any education during his time there, leaving uncertainty about how he will be upon his return home. According to her, Alex has faced many challenges and the situation is chaotic.

“I was informed that Alex claimed to have fled and no longer wanted to live that way. I simply want to uncover the truth about what transpired.”

“Deputy Chief Constable Chris Sykes of Greater Manchester Police expressed his relief and joy at the news. He is currently collaborating with French authorities to bring the teenager back home within the next few days.”

Source: independent.co.uk