Alex Batty, the British teenager who vanished six years ago while on holiday in Spain, has for the first time shared the full story of his abduction by his mother and grandfather. Batty, now 17, was found in December 2023 in France, having been missing since 2017 when he failed to return from a trip with his mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty.
His disappearance sparked an international search, with his grandmother, Susan Caruana, making repeated public appeals for his return. Alex was 11 years old when he travelled to Spain with his mother and grandfather, where they were believed to have been seeking an alternative lifestyle, moving between various communities in different countries.
In his recent account, Batty detailed his years living in what he described as an off-grid, nomadic existence, moving between Spain, Morocco, and France. He explained that he had grown tired of this way of life and decided to leave, walking for several days before being picked up by a delivery driver near the city of Toulouse, who then alerted the authorities.
Upon his discovery, Alex was brought back to the UK and reunited with his grandmother, Susan Caruana, in Oldham, Greater Manchester. His return brought a conclusion to a missing person's case that had remained open for over half a decade, generating significant media attention both in the UK and internationally.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed at the time that Alex was safe and well. However, his mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty, are still wanted by authorities in connection with his abduction. The circumstances surrounding their actions and current whereabouts remain part of ongoing investigations.