Alex Batty says ‘I am glad to be right here for Christmas’ as he makes first assertion since reuniting together with his household in England after he was lacking for greater than six years

A British teenager who was lacking for greater than six years has spoken out for the primary time since returning to the UK. 

Alex Batty, 17, mentioned ‘I am glad to be right here for Christmas’ as he broke his silence. 

{The teenager} was present in France final week and spent his first night time again in Britain on Saturday.

Alex landed in Manchester, strolling off the airplane with a skateboard underneath his arm earlier than being promptly whisked away to fulfill his grandmother, Susan Caruana, whom it’s understood he’ll stay with.

It was the welcome finish of an extended journey for Alex, who was discovered on Wednesday after escaping a ‘nomadic’ life in a commune within the French Pyrenees, in accordance with French authorities, years after he didn’t return from a household vacation in Spain.

{The teenager}, who vanished when he was 11, is anticipated to talk with Larger Manchester Police at a later date as they appear to piece collectively the occasions surrounding his disappearance and years spent dwelling in a ‘non secular commune’ after allegedly being kidnapped by his mom and grandfather in 2017.

In a press convention on Saturday night time, Larger Manchester Police defined that they’d not but spoken to Alex about his disappearance or ‘what [he] could have been doing, and the place he has been, over his years lacking’.

They mentioned that they’d assist Alex as they appear to know what occurred.

‘Talking with him at a tempo that feels comfy to him we’ll in the end decide how this case is progressed and whether or not there’s a felony investigation to make sure,’ Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle mentioned. 

‘Our continued focus is supporting Alex and his household in partnership with different native companies to make sure they’re secure, their wellbeing is sorted, and his reintegration with society is as simple as attainable.

‘We’re but to determine the total circumstances surrounding his disappearance, however it doesn’t matter what, perceive that this can be an amazing course of. 

‘He could now be six years older than when he went lacking, however he’s nonetheless an adolescent.’

French authorities confirmed that Alex had been ‘accompanied by British law enforcement officials’ on a KLM flight by way of Amsterdam on Saturday.

ACC Boyle mentioned Alex met with a member of the family alongside Larger Manchester Police at Toulouse Airport earlier than heading again to the UK.

‘This second was undoubtedly large for him and his family members and we’re glad that they’ve been capable of see one another once more in spite of everything this time.’

Alex’s grandmother shared her ‘aid and happiness’ on the information he had been discovered after years making an attempt desperately to get in contact. 

‘I spoke with him final night time and it was so good to listen to his voice and see his face once more,’ Ms Caruana mentioned in a press release launched by Larger Manchester Police on Friday.

‘I can not wait to see him once we’re reunited. The principle factor is that he is secure, after what can be an amazing expertise for anybody, not least a baby.’

Since September 2017 Alex is assumed to have been dwelling in a ‘non secular neighborhood’ within the French Pyrenees together with his mom, then 37, and grandfather, then 58. 

French police mentioned on Friday that Alex claimed his mom had determined to flee the mountain neighborhood to Finland following the loss of life of his grandfather six months in the past. 

Assistant Prosecutor Antoine Leroy mentioned: ‘When his mom indicated that she was going to depart with him to Finland, this younger man understood that this needed to cease. 

‘So then he determined to depart the place the place he was together with his mom and walked for 4 days and 4 nights.’

Police mentioned final night time they’d not but been capable of find Ms Batty who might be in Finland. 

Neighbours dwelling close to to the remoted farmhouse the place Alex was mentioned to have been dwelling have given contradictory reviews, nevertheless, claiming that his grandfather – recognized to locals as Peter – was alive. 

They claimed they noticed Peter mowing the garden of the Gite de la Bastide within the hamlet La Bastide, about an hour’s drive south of Carcassonne.

A neighbour, who gave his identify solely as Sebastian, mentioned: ‘Peter just isn’t lifeless. I noticed him every week in the past, perhaps ten days. He was mowing the grass in entrance of the Gite.

‘I do know this as a result of my mum’s canine loves him. She is a white border collie and he throws a stick for her.’

Sebastian mentioned that Alex – recognized to locals as Zak – had lived within the Gite together with his grandfather a part of the time and spent the remainder of the time together with his mom someplace within the neighbouring division of Ariege.

Alex was discovered on a abandoned countryside street heading in direction of Toulose on Wednesday at 3am by 26-year-old Fabien Accidini, a pupil and supply driver from Marseilles.

The exhausted teen was seen carrying a skateboard, a flashlight and a rucksack on his again when he was picked up by Fabien.

Fabien instructed La Depeche newspaper of the second he found {the teenager}: ‘He was strolling whereas the rain fell in heavy drops. The second time I handed him, I made a decision to supply to drop him off someplace.

‘He was fairly tall and blond, and wearing black denims, a white sweater and a backpack. He additionally carried a skateboard underneath his arm and a flashlight for lighting. His perspective gave me confidence. He ended up moving into my van.’

Fabien mentioned that Alex appeared drained and burdened when he picked him up, however was ‘actually effective bodily’.