**Missing World Cup Fan Found Safe After Ten-Day Search**
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A 65-year-old Englishman who went missing while travelling to the United States for the World Cup has been located safe and well in Barcelona, after a frantic ten-day search by his family. Michael Hewitt, affectionately known as “Little Mick” among his friends, disappeared during his journey from England to Boston to support Leeds United Football Club.
The last confirmed contact from Michael was during a layover in Barcelona on June 21, when he informed his family that he was en route to the United States. As time passed and there were no further messages, his family grew increasingly concerned. His brother, Gary Hewitt, took to social media on June 29, pleading for help to locate his brother. “He doesn’t seem to have made it to Boston, and our last contact with him was from Barcelona,” Gary wrote. “Since then, his phone has been out of service and he hasn’t posted any updates on social media. As you can imagine, we are now very worried for his safety.”
Days after Gary’s post gained traction, Michael was found safe in Barcelona, blissfully unaware of the distress caused by his absence. “As a family, we desperately wanted an embarrassingly simple but happy ending to this horrendous episode and now we have that,” Gary conveyed in an update to his followers, expressing profound gratitude to everyone who helped in the search.
It was later revealed that Michael had lost his phone shortly after his arrival in the Spanish city, leaving him unable to contact his family or access important information. Gary recounted that Michael did not know any of the phone numbers that were stored on his device. “He didn’t think to go to the Embassy as he still had his passport and money, so didn’t think they’d be interested,” Gary explained.
Michael had originally intended to stay in Barcelona for a brief period before continuing his journey to the World Cup match between England and Ghana on June 23. However, without his travel tickets—stored electronically on his lost phone—he was unable to board his flight. Instead, as Gary noted, Michael found ways to enjoy his time in Barcelona by watching the England matches in local bars, entirely unaware that his family and friends were in distress over his wellbeing.
Despite the uncertainty that his family faced, Michael remained blissfully ignorant of the widespread concern. Reports stated that there was no visible indication of the search effort taking place within Barcelona itself, further isolating him from the crisis at home.
In a heartwarming conclusion to this troubling narrative, Gary expressed immense relief and joy now that his brother has been found safe. “A million thanks to each and every person who has helped bring Mick home safely,” he stated.
Michael’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the potential challenges faced by travellers, particularly in an age where reliance on technology for communication and travel arrangements can leave individuals vulnerable. With Michael now safely located, his family can look forward to welcoming him home and no doubt will recount this extraordinary tale for years to come.
As the World Cup continues in the United States, the Hewitt family can now shift their focus back to enjoying the sporting event that originally inspired Michael’s travels, grateful for his safe return.