The incredible story of the English fan: He disappeared on the way to the World Cup, he was found 10 days later in a bar in Barcelona

2026-07-03 19:41:56Sport SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The incredible story of the English fan: He disappeared on the way to the World

Michael Hewitt, a 65-year-old England fan, has been found in Barcelona after a ten-day search. It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime: a flight to the United States to follow England at the 2026 World Cup. But for ten days, Michael Hewitt was declared missing, while his family and British authorities searched for him. Unbeknownst to him, he continued to watch the games… sitting comfortably in Barcelona bars.

The story took an unexpected turn during a stopover in the Catalan city. Shortly after arriving, Michael lost his mobile phone, which contained his plane tickets and all the information he needed to continue his journey to the US. Unable to retrieve his travel documents and unable to remember his family's phone numbers, he decided to abandon the trip across the Atlantic.

Convinced that there was no problem, as he still had his passport, money and bank cards, the England fan decided to simply stay in Barcelona. There he spent the days following England's World Cup journey in the city's bars, unaware that his family and friends had meanwhile reported him missing and that a search operation had been launched, including the British Foreign Office.

The story was made public by his brother, Gary, who explained that Michael had lost his phone as soon as he arrived in Spain and did not remember any phone numbers. Moreover, he had never thought of contacting the embassy, ​​because he still had his documents and money with him and did not think that he was in an emergency situation. The solution came thanks to the payments he had made with his bank card. The British embassy managed to track down the hotel where he was staying, making it possible to locate him and restore contact with his family.

The good news was given by the family themselves on social networks: "Fantastic news! Our Mick is well and safe in Barcelona. He had no idea that the whole world was looking for him!" After days of anxiety, the story ended with a smile. The family admitted that they had hoped until the end that everything had a simple, albeit slightly embarrassing, explanation. And that is exactly what happened. Michael was not lost in some distant place, but was simply living his personal World Cup, in front of a beer and a giant screen, on the streets of Barcelona.


Video