OrionTimes Sports Desk | July 4, 2026
An England football supporter who sparked an international search after disappearing while travelling to the United States for the FIFA World Cup has been found safe in Spain, bringing relief to his family after 10 anxious days.
Michael Hewitt, 65, affectionately known as "Little Mick," was last heard from on June 21 while on a stopover in Barcelona, Spain, before he was due to continue his journey to Boston for England's World Cup fixture against Ghana.
According to reports, Hewitt's ordeal began after he lost his mobile phone shortly after arriving in Barcelona. The device contained his travel documents, tickets and contact information, leaving him unable to continue his journey or communicate with family members.
His brother, Gary Hewitt, explained that Michael still had his passport and money, leading him to believe there was no need to seek assistance from the British Embassy.
"He lost his phone soon after arriving in Barcelona and didn't know any of the phone numbers stored on it," Gary said. "He didn't think to go to the Embassy as he still had his passport and money, so didn't think they'd be interested."
Without internet access, Hewitt remained completely unaware that relatives had reported him missing and that authorities had launched an international search. Instead, he continued enjoying his stay in Barcelona, watching England's World Cup matches in local bars.
The family's last trace of him came through Facebook photos showing him at a bar in the Spanish city before communication suddenly ceased.
As concern mounted, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, working alongside Interpol, joined efforts to locate the missing football fan while relatives appealed to the public for information.
The breakthrough came after the British Embassy in Spain successfully traced Hewitt's hotel using his bank card transactions. Officials then contacted him and reunited him with his relieved family.
Expressing gratitude after the emotional reunion, Gary Hewitt described the outcome as the ending the family had desperately hoped for.
"As a family, we desperately wanted an embarrassingly simple but happy ending to this horrendous episode, and we now have that," he said.
He also thanked everyone who assisted in the search, adding: "It's amazing what can be achieved when the good people of the world go Marching on Together" ,a tribute to the famous anthem of Leeds United, the club Michael passionately supports.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping emergency contact details accessible outside mobile devices while travelling abroad, as the loss of a phone can quickly become a major communication challenge.
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