Michael Hewitt, a 65-year-old England fan who vanished while traveling to the World Cup in the United States, has been found safe and well in a Barcelona pub. He was reportedly 'blissfully unaware' that his family had sparked a global search after he failed to make contact.
How he was found
Hewitt, known as Mick, was spotted by an off-duty police officer who was on holiday in Barcelona. The officer noticed Hewitt wearing a Leeds United shirt and exchanged the 'Leeds salute' – a clenched right fist against the heart. Later, the officer saw a social media appeal and alerted local police, leading to Hewitt's discovery.
Details of his disappearance
Hewitt left Leeds on June 20 intending to travel to the US via Barcelona for the World Cup. He was last seen in the early hours of June 21 in a Barcelona bar. His family raised the alarm after he 'vanished without trace.' However, Hewitt had lost his phone soon after arriving in the city. According to his brother Gary, 'Because he still had his wallet and passport he saw no reason to go to the Embassy or to let us know.'
Family's relief
Gary Hewitt received a call from the British Consulate in Barcelona on Wednesday morning. He told The Athletic: 'I really did think it would just be bad news. It was awful last night. My sister and I really did think the next call would be a request to identify him, which was sickening... And she says, “Hi, Gary, it’s Carolina (consulate employee), I have your brother on the phone. Would you like to speak with him?”' He described the moment as 'a feeling of a huge weight being lifted.'
Mick's reaction
When informed of the global search, Mick reportedly responded, 'How do you mean? Who’s been looking for me?' Gary said, 'He doesn’t like a fuss and he doesn’t like publicity, so he’ll be mortified.' Mick had been planning to fly to Boston only if he could secure a ticket for a match, which he had not. His brother noted, 'His life revolves around football, everything else is peripheral.'
Heartwarming messages
Despite the stress, Gary said the family was touched by the outpouring of support. He added: 'Over the last few days it’s been horrendous but lovely seeing the heartfelt stuff. Mick’s in the rare position of finding out what people truly think about him while he’s still alive.'
