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According to reports, it is alleged that Alex Batty was not located last month due to a lack of communication between British and French authorities. This was reportedly after he attempted to enroll in a nearby school without proper identification.
The 17-year-old boy has sent a text to his grandmother expressing his love and desire to come back home. This comes as he prepares to emotionally return to Oldham after spending the past six years living with his mother in a “nomadic spiritual community” in the Pyrenees mountains.
According to a report from the French news source La Depeche, he attempted to enroll in a school in the town of Quillan and is expected to arrive in the UK on Saturday.
The teachers notified the police about the British teenager in November, as he was unable to present any form of identification and had limited proficiency in French.
An official involved in the investigation stated that the gendarmes attempted to reach out to the authorities in England, but encountered an obstacle that prevented them from pursuing the matter further.
The article asserted that the authorities did not make the connection between Alex’s initial missing report, when he was supposedly taken by his mother and grandfather during a trip to Spain in 2017.
They stated that the partnership between France and Britain was not able to connect Alex Batty’s presence in Quillan to his disappearance notice that was issued in England seven years prior.
His grandmother was filled with joy when she spoke to him on the phone for the first time since he was taken away by his mother and grandfather and grew up in a secluded French village.
Susan Caruana, the happy grandmother and legal guardian at age 68, shared her thoughts on the heartwarming video call with Alex, expressing, “It’s truly incredible. The whole story is just amazing.”
Alex Batty was discovered on Wednesday near Toulouse after trekking for four days through the Pyrenees (Greater Manchester Police/PA).
I find it hard to believe that after all this time, I am still in shock. I recently spoke to him and he seems to be doing well, but that’s all I can disclose at the moment. I am eager to see him this weekend, but I am unsure of what plans are in place.
I am anticipating notification from the authorities.
“I am overwhelmed and ecstatic. I am in disbelief. When I heard his voice, it felt like a dream come true. It was beyond belief.”
Susan Caruana is hoping to be reunited with Alex this weekend
According to reports, Alex expressed to a delivery driver who noticed the tired teenager walking along a country road on Wednesday: “I am in need of a future.”
The adolescent ran away by walking for four consecutive days, traveling at night and resting during the day to avoid being found.
At 2am on Wednesday, Fabien Accidini collected him and brought him to the police in Revel, which is close to Toulouse.
The driver informed the media that Batty had his possessions with him, such as a skateboard and a lamp, when he stopped to offer assistance.
Mr. Accidini, a student studying chiropractic, stated: “He mentioned that he had been hiking for four days, starting from a location in the mountains, although he did not specify where. I searched his name online and discovered that he was being sought after.”
Alex Batty
According to public prosecutors, Alex did not suffer any physical abuse while living in the mountains and there is no proof that he was a member of a cult.
The duration of his absence from home has his family concerned.
Alex, along with his mother Melanie Batty and grandfather David Batty, appeared in a video declaring that they would not be going back home.
Chris Sykes, the Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, expressed his relief and joy and is currently collaborating with French authorities to repatriate the teenager.
According to him, the UK authorities are purchasing a ticket and will make arrangements for transportation from Bordeaux. He is expected to depart tomorrow or, at the latest, the day after.
Antoine Leroy, the deputy prosecutor of Toulouse, stated that the young person had resided in various parts of southern France for the last two years, staying in “spiritual communities” with his mother, but not in a cult.
During a news conference, Leroy stated that the teenager claimed he had never been confined. Leroy also mentioned that the teenager made the decision to leave his mother after learning she was intending to relocate to Finland.
The adolescent informed the officials that his grandfather had passed away six months earlier.
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