December 22nd 2023.
Alex Batty is a 17-year-old who recently made the news for his return to the UK after six years of living an ‘alternative’ lifestyle on the move across Europe. His decision to return was prompted by a row with his mother with whom he had been on holiday in 2017.
Alex revealed he wrote a ‘goodbye’ letter to his mum 20 minutes before he left, telling her ‘how much I loved her, how much I appreciated what she had done for me’ and that he didn’t want her to worry.
During his time away, Alex said he lived a nomadic lifestyle with ‘no friends’ and ‘no social life’. To make up for this absence of structure, Alex started working odd jobs in construction, decoration, painting walls and renovation work when he was 14. He also took to learning languages and studying maths and computing when he came across a textbook.
Speaking about his mum, he said: ‘I realised it wasn’t a great way to live for my future. Moving around. No friends, no social life. Working, working, work and not studying. That’s the life I imagined I would be leading if I were to stay with my mum.’
Alex was eventually picked up by chiropody student Fabien Accidini near Toulouse in the early hours of Wednesday last week after walking across the Pyrenees. He was described as ‘tired’ but ‘in good health’ and is now with his gran in Oldham.
Alex is now looking forward to spending time with family members, friends and others he grew up with in Greater Manchester, and a police investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance is ongoing.
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