The photo of Alex Batty that was circulated at the time of his disappearance. Source: Greater Manchester Police.
British boy Alex Batty, who disappeared six years ago, was found wandering along a highway in southern France.
It is believed that he was found by a delivery driver near Toulouse after walking for four days.
Alex Batty disappeared when he was 11 years old during a trip to Spain with his mother and grandfather.
His grandmother and legal guardian, Susan Caruana, said she agreed to the trip with the plan that they would return home after one week in Spain.
They were expected to return to England on 8 October 2017, but they never did.
At the time, his mother and grandfather did not have parental guardianship and were wanted by law enforcement in connection with his disappearance.
Caruana has remained active on Facebook and said her grandson’s disappearance was “years of torture” and “pain”.
“I hope I will see you again some day, I would give anything just for one hug,” she wrote on Facebook in 2021.
Police believe that Batty may have escaped from a rural community in the Pyrenees mountains.
The area is known for attracting people in search of spiritual and alternative lifestyles.
French authorities confirmed the identity of Alex Batty and said that “he is well and providing information”.
They are working with the Greater Manchester Police, who are in contact with the family in England.
“This is a complex and long-running investigation, and we need to make further enquiries as well as putting appropriate safeguarding measures in place,” said a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police.
The investigation into the child’s disappearance is being handled by British authorities.
His mother and grandfather have not been located.
