Mystery German woodland boy may be British
Police are trawling missing person reports to try to identify the English-speaking teenager who emerged in Berlin claiming to have spent five years living in the woods with his father.
The 17-year old boy called Ray, who says he does not remember where his family came from, said he followed his compass north to reach the city after his father died.
Today, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said consular staff were assisting officials in Berlin but it was not yet known if the boy, thought to be 17 or 18, was a British national.
German police chiefs have called on Interpol, the world’s largest police organisation, to see if the boy matches any missing person reports.
Officers said they would not know the results until Monday.
The teenager appeared at Berlin’s city hall on September 5 and was taken in by a youth emergency centre.
Claudia Elitok, of Berlin Police, said: “He speaks fluent English and a few words in German. He remembers his name but we are not releasing it.
“He explained that the last five years were spent in the woods with his father, then his father died and he buried him.
“He was walking for two weeks before getting to Berlin. He has said what happened to his mother but I can’t go into that information.
“He was found in good condition and is being taken care of by officials.”
He speaks fluent English and a few words in German. He remembers his name but we are not releasing it. Claudia Elitok, Berlin Police
Detectives are going over everything Ray has told them to establish a picture of his background and biography.
It is not known if Ray will accompany police to the spot where he left his father and began his journey to the capital.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of these reports and we are looking into them.”
It is though consular staff could being liaising with the authorities in Berlin on Monday if the teenager proves to be British.
The teenager’s story is reminiscent of the Piano Man, German Andreas Grassl, who was found wandering the streets of Sheerness, Kent, in 2005.
Despite Europe-wide appeals, no-one knew who the 20-year-old was.
For months he remained uncommunicative except for showing his accomplished pianist skills.
