The story of Alex Batty – level 3

22-12-2023 07:00

British teenager Alex Batty, allegedly kidnapped six years ago, escaped across the Pyrenees when his mother planned to move to Finland.

Living a nomadic lifestyle with his mother and solar-enthusiast grandfather, Alex, now 17, survived on whatever he found in fields during his journey. Spending two years in spiritual communities across Spain, Morocco, and France, he decided to flee when his mother announced the move to Finland. With only 100 euros and a skateboard, he revealed his desperation to a passing driver, expressing the need for a future. Found in a remote corner of France, Alex is expected to reunite with his grandmother who is his legal guardian. His mother, Melanie Batty, remains missing, possibly in Finland.

Despite his years away, Alex appears calm and intelligent, sharing details of his nomadic life. French prosecutors are investigating while ensuring the safe return of the boy, who is set to return to the UK accompanied by British police officers.

Difficult words: nomadic (moving from one place to another rather than living in one place all of the time), desperation (the feeling that you are in such a bad situation that you’ll try anything to change it).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.

What were some of the challenges that Alex faced during his two-year journey across Spain, Morocco, and France?

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