LONDON, Dec 18: A British teenager who went missing for six years has safely returned to the UK after being located in France, as confirmed by local police. Alex Batty, now 17, disappeared during a holiday in Spain with his mother and grandfather in 2017. He was discovered near Toulouse in the French department of Haute-Garonne on Wednesday.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle of Greater Manchester Police announced the teenager's safe return and mentioned that Alex met with a family member and UK police officers at Toulouse airport before boarding his flight home.

Upon his arrival, Alex is expected to be reunited with his grandmother, Susan Caruana, who resides in Oldham, Greater Manchester, and is his legal guardian. Caruana expressed relief and happiness at his safe recovery, emphasizing the family's request for privacy during this time.

It was revealed that Alex's grandfather passed away about six months ago, and his mother, who lacks legal parental guardianship, may currently be in Finland, according to Toulouse's deputy prosecutor Antoine Leroy.

The teen was discovered this week by a French motorist, Fabien Accidini, who found him on the side of the road. Accidini, a chiropractic student, learned that Alex had been living in a "spiritual community" in France for the past two years. The boy revealed to Accidini that he had been kidnapped by his mother five years ago in Morocco, subsequently living in Spain before joining the spiritual community in France.

Describing his mother as "a bit crazy," Alex shared details about his experiences during a three-hour conversation with Accidini. The area where Alex was found, Quillan, is known for hosting a community of international nomads seeking an alternative lifestyle.