Alex Batty disappeared in October 2017 during a trip to Spain with his mother. Six years later, a man, Fabien Accidini, found him wandering in the rain in France. The first thing Batty said made Fabien call the police

Alex Batty was just 11 years old when he disappeared in October 2017. The boy had traveled from the UK to Spain with his mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty. But what was supposed to be a short holiday in Marbella would soon turn into a heartbreaking mystery.

The thing was that Alex never came home to Greater Manchester. His grandmother, Susan Caruana, who was his legal guardian, became increasingly worried when Melanie and David failed to bring the young boy back to the UK.

She eventually reported Alex missing, which was the beginning of a search for the boy that would last for years.

On December 13, 2023, Fabien Accidini saw something strange. In the erly hours, in heavy rain near the French city of Toulouse, he saw a boy walking all by himself.

Accidini, then 26, told Sky News that the walking teenager looked tired and stressed when he picked him up, but otherwise seemed calm. Physically, he appeared to be “really fine.”

The disappearance of Alex Batty

But still, when he asked why the boy was walking all by himself, he was shocked by the first response. Alex had been kidnapped by his mother.

Fabien told French outlet La Dépêche, “He was quite tall and blond, and dressed in black jeans, a white sweater and a backpack. He also carried a skateboard under his arm and a flashlight for lighting.”

At first, Fabien had passed Alex. However, after thinking it over for a second, he decided to stop and ask the boy if he needed a lift.

“During the first few minutes, he seemed a little shy. We tried to speak in French, but I noticed that he had not mastered the language,” Fabien said.

“I decided to communicate in English. When I asked him his name, he pretended his name was Zach, and then we continued chatting. We talked for over three hours. Very quickly, he gave me his real identity – Alex Batty – before telling me his story.”

Alex used Accidini’s phone to call his grandmother back in the UK. Meanwhile, Fabien called the police, concerned about Alex’s health. Later, it was concluded that Alex had lived together with around ten other people in a luxury property, before moving to France in 2021.

First words after being found, six years later

During a press conference after Alex was found, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said: “I think I speak on behalf of the whole of Greater Manchester Police when I say we were relieved and overjoyed to receive news from the French Authorities that they believe Alex Batty had been located safe and well, more than 6 years after his disappearance. This is a huge moment for Alex, for his family and for the community in Oldham.”

“Alex went missing whilst on holiday in 2017 when he was just 11 years old. On Wednesday, a member a public reported a potential sighting in the Toulouse area of France. The young man identified as Alex and was taken to a French police station,” he continued.

Speaking in a new BBC documentary, Kidnapped by My Mum, Alex Batty explained that he was unhappy living away from mainstream society.

“We used to sit at a cafe quite often and the school was right next to it,” Alex said. “I’d hear the school bell ring, the kids would come out of school and it really made me miss it. I walked up to my mum and I cried my eyes out because you know, I’d had enough.”

Batty, now 20, claimed his mother had tried to influence his beliefes through spiritual and anti-establishment ideologies

He also claimed his mother tried to influence his beliefs through anti-establishment and spiritual ideology.

Alex Batty today

At one point during his run from his mother, Alex Batty lived in a tent, sometimes eating just one meal a day, and carried out manual labor for money.

“My relationship with my mum, it’s such a complicated thing,” he told the BBC. “I’m annoyed at what she did… the experiences I missed out on and my lack of education.”

After returning to the UK, he sent his mother a text message.

After his journey retracing his life off-grid, he decided to send his mother a text message.

“I know how much you care about me and how all you wanted to do was protect me. I love both of you,” it partly read.

He told the BBC, Hopefully, one day I’ll be able to get to the point where I can go and see them and have an enjoyable time. Rather than have my mum push things down my throat like she used to do.”

Today, Alex Batty has started a family of his own. In fact, he has even become a father to a baby girl.

“This entire trip has reconnected me to my mum and grandad and made me want to build that bridge again,” Alex Batty said.