What began as a distressing disappearance ended with an outcome that is now making thousands of people laugh.
Michael Hewitt, a 65-year-old English supporter and Leeds United fan, was traveling to the United States to attend the 2026 World Cup. His itinerary included a stopover in Barcelona, but an unexpected event there completely changed his plans.
Shortly after landing, he lost his mobile phone, where he had stored his tickets, contacts, and all the information needed to continue the trip. With no way to communicate with his family and no internet access, he decided to stay in the Spanish city.
Meanwhile, his relatives went ten days without hearing from him. Their concern was so great that they asked British authorities, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office, and even Interpol for help in trying to locate him.
The most unusual part came when he was finally found.
According to his family, Michael was “completely unaware” of the international search. He believed that as long as he had his passport and money, there was no reason to go to the embassy, so he simply kept enjoying Barcelona and watching the World Cup matches in bars around the city.
Eventually, the authorities managed to locate the hotel where he was staying thanks to records of his card payments, and they were able to put him back in contact with his loved ones. His family acknowledged that they went through days of enormous anguish, but celebrated that everything ended with a happy ending.