ALEX Batty has spoken publicly for the first time since being reunited with his family in the UK.
The British teenager, who was found in France last week, told reporters today: “I’m just happy to be home for Christmas.”
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Alex Batty, now 17, went missing in 2017 after a family holiday in SpainCredit: PA
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Alex’s grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana never stopped hoping that her grandson would one day be found Credit: PA
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Alex Batty, now 17, with his mother Melanie and grandfather David Batty Credit: Enterprise
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Alex Batty lived in a dilapidated cabin with his mother and grandfather high in the foothills of the Pyrenees Credit: Doug Seeburg
The boy finally returned to his grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana’s home in Oldham, Greater Manchester on Saturday night after escaping from a French commune.
He had been missing for more than six years when he was picked up by a French driver on a rural road in southern France.
Today, he offered his first public comment to reporters outside his grandmother’s house after returning from shopping with a cousin.
A small dog ran out of his grandmother’s home while he was returning from the store.
Susan, 68, shouted afterwards: “Don’t disappear like Alex,” before the family pet rushed back inside.
French prosecutor Antoine Leroy previously said Alex, now 17, and his mother Melanie were “constantly on the move”.
The couple and Alex’s grandfather David went on a pre-arranged trip to Spain in 2017 and were due to return after a week, but were not seen again – until Alex turned up on Wednesday.
David might have died six months ago, Leroy argued.
It is understood Alex did not attend his grandfather’s funeral, but there was a community ceremony at the time.
The nomadic commune where Alex has reportedly been since 2017 is said to be cut off from society without schools.
He decided to run away from his mom in the Pyrenees mountains when she told him they had to move to Finland, according to Leroy.
During a press conference on Friday, French police said: “When his mother told Alex that they had to go to Finland, Alex Batty decided to end this trip and left his mum and started walking for four days and four nights.
– He mostly walked at night and slept during the day.
Cousin Stephen Devine, a cousin of Alex’s mum, told The Sun: “Alexa’s mum was involved in a cult.
“His grandmother became his guardian, but then his mother… and grandfather offered to take him on vacation for a week and were never seen again.
“It will be a big adjustment for him. He probably grew up without formal education.”
Alex’s grandmother Susan never gave up hope that one day her grandson would be found.
Greater Manchester Police have previously confirmed that Alex is safely back in the UK.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said on Saturday: “Alex had been missing since 2017 before being found by a member of the public near Toulouse on the evening of Wednesday 13 December 2023.
“GMP has yet to receive any official statements from Alex and therefore cannot comment on this at this time. Talking to him, at a pace that suits him, will ultimately determine how this case progresses and whether there is a criminal investigation to follow.
“Our ongoing focus is to support Alex and his family in partnership with other local agencies to ensure they are safe, their welfare is looked after and his reintegration into society is as easy as possible.”
He added: “We have yet to establish all the circumstances of his disappearance, but regardless, understand that this could be a difficult process. He may be six years older now than when he went missing, but he is still a young person.
“I would continue to ask for the support of the community and the media in giving Alex and his family privacy as they look to move forward.”
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