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4 months ago
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MISSING Brit Ben Ross was found “dehydrated and exhausted” after 12 days missing, with his mum now arranging an emergency passport.
The trainee lawyer living in Majorca had disappeared on July 10 after his valuables were stolen and he had fallen out with his flatmates.
Mum Felix said she was ‘incredibly grateful’Supplied
Paradise turned to nightmare for Ben on the sun-soaked island
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Mum Felix said she was going door-knocking around the streets of Palma to find Ben
But an update to a GoFundMe for the Wigan man today announced that Ben had been found with mum Felix Robinson “incredibly relieved”.
Temperatures of 32C have hit the sun-soaked island over the last two weeks as emergency services, friends, and family have searched for Ben.
The GoFundMe update also said Ben would need an emergency passport to fly from Spain to the UK.
His belongings, including his passport, iPad, keys and wallet, had all been stolen while the 26-year-old had been swimming at the beach before his disappearance.
Loved ones feared he may have had no money and no way of contacting family members for help after the July 6 theft.
Ben moved to the holiday hotspot in June for a break from his studies before going missing earlier this month.
His last contact with his mum was a “peculiar” email indicating his mental health declined after being robbed at the beach and then falling out with flatmates.
Pal Carla Speight operates the GoFundMe and today wrote: “Ben has been FOUND!”
“Today Ben was at the British Consulate in Palma Majorca and met with Felix who is incredibly relieved at the sight of her son and being able to hug him.”
“For now, Felix and her family are requesting some privacy whilst they get Ben back to full strength and home, and they want to extend their thanks to the press, media and public for all their support in finding him.
“They now have the task of arranging an emergency passport alongside making sure he is well enough to fly home following treatment for dehydration and exhaustion.
“Donations to the GoFundMe that was set up by friends will be donated to Andy’s Man Club once they arrive home over the next week.”
Felix previously told the Liverpool Echo: “He seemed to have gotten everything together but a series of unfortunate events have led him to having a breakdown.
“He’s a lovely lad, he would do absolutely anything for anyone. He’s extremely polite and he would never walk past anyone in need.
“He started having these issues a couple of years ago and it affected his studies. He was getting ready for his pupillage as he trained to be a barrister but we don’t know how it all started.”
Mum Felix had been “going out of my mind” with worry.
She said: “I just want to find him, see he’s ok and give him the biggest hug.
“So I’ve started the search myself, I’m going to everywhere that’s open today. The Churches, the docks, anywhere that’s open. If anyone has any information please let the authorities know.”
Theft and break In
On July 6, Ben set out to get a European work number – and was carrying all his important items including his identification, phone, wallet, iPad and keys to the apartment he was staying in.
After finishing the process, he decided to go to a beach for a swim.
However, upon his return, Ben was shocked to discover his bag with all his possessions – including his phone – had been stolen.
The trainee barrister reported the theft to cops, but by the time he was done it was late at night and without the aid of navigation on his phone, he got lost.
While he managed to find his way back to his apartment, despite knocking on the door several times, his flatmates didn’t let him in.
A distressed Ben then broke his way in, which sparked a row with his flatmates over the door damage.
Cops were allegedly called to the flat but decided Ben had no criminal case to answer because he’d offered to pay for the damage he inflicted by forcing his way in.
Felix says his flatmates then made clear their intentions to kick him out.
The mum then received a distressed email claiming to be from Ben from a new address.
The cryptic email told her what had happened and that he was not interested in what happened next to him, which left Felix seriously concerned for her son.
Hunt for Ben
Mum Felix had reached the Spanish holiday hotspot for a desperate door-to-door hunt on the Palma streets for her son.
The distraught mum was said to have met the British Consulate in Spain to start a search operation along with cops.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester police previously released a statement regarding the search of Ben, saying it had referred the family to the British consulate.
A spokesperson said: “On Saturday 13 July 2024 we received a report that a 26-year-old man from Wigan had travelled to Spain and stopped contact with his friends and family.
“We informed them that they should contact the British Consulate who would be able to assist them in the search for their loved one abroad.”
The Foreign Office meanwhile also had confirmed it was supporting Felix and her family.
A FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Spanish cops said they were urgently trying to track down the missing Brit, with a homicide unit leading the search.
A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca said: “We are aware of this disappearance and work is being done to try to locate this man.
“That’s all we can say at this present time.”
Homicide units are generally chosen to lead missing person cases in Spain.
Ben had gone to Majorca following his law studies
Police forces were helping search for Ben
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