Officers reunite missing fan with family
PC Lamb and PC Somers of West Midlands Police were on holiday in Barcelona when they struck up a conversation with a man known as 'Little Mick' in a bar. At the time, they did not know he was Michael Hewitt, a 65-year-old Leeds United fan reported missing during his journey to the World Cup in Boston. Hewitt had been travelling via Barcelona to watch England play Ghana in June when he lost his phone, leaving him unaware of the international search for him. Without access to his flight tickets, he remained in the city. Two days after speaking with Hewitt, the officers saw social media posts about the missing person investigation. They immediately contacted local authorities in Barcelona and shared their information to help reunite him with his family.
Family relief as search ends
The 10-day search for Hewitt attracted widespread media coverage. His brother Gary said: "Little Mick is safe and well in Barcelona, blissfully unaware that the whole world was searching for him. As a family, we desperately wanted an embarrassingly simple but happy ending to this horrendous episode and we now have that." West Midlands Police Chief Inspector Sean Corrigan praised the officers' actions. "The officers' actions demonstrate our values as a police force, as even on holiday they acted quickly to help a potentially vulnerable man in need. By quickly recognising who they'd been speaking to, and immediately informing Spanish authorities, they helped end an international search."
While the man involved may have just been enjoying a holiday himself, we commend our officers for interrupting theirs and going above and beyond.
Hewitt was found safe and well. No further assistance is required, and the family has expressed gratitude for the efforts of both UK and Spanish authorities.
Reported by manchestereveningnews.co.uk, Rucsandra Moldoveanu, marca.com, MARCA, bbc.com, footballgroundguide.com, Robson McCallister, bbc.co.uk, Olivia Day, BBC, yorkshirepost.co.uk, Manchester Evening News.
