Jim and Pauline Green appeared on ITV’s This Morning earlier in the month to share their story after discovering data protection laws were preventing their reunion
THE parents of a man who had been missing for six years have finally been reunited with their son after flying out to Spain.
Jim and Pauline Green appeared on ITV’s This Morning earlier in the month to share their story after discovering data protection laws were preventing their reunion.
Now the daytime TV show has helped them head out to the country and meet their boy Matthew in the psychiatric ward he is being held at.
As tears welled in her eyes Pauline told of the utter joy she felt at seeing her son for the first time.
Weeping she told the programme: "He was walking towards us and I knew straight away it was Matt. He had a totally different appearance but I knew after six years that his appearance would change.
“We have had no contact whatsoever... And now we’ve got him.”
Pauline revealed that Matt refused to hug either of them and didn’t want to be touched but his dad was just about able to converse with his son.
Jim said: "Hearing our voices was possibly the first English people that he has spoken to for a very long time.
"Where the doctors have said that he wouldn't communicate, I think really with the intervention with Mark and me and Pauline we broke that barrier with him."
Mark William Thomas, a criminologist who has been helping the family with search, was the first to meet Matthew and urged him to speak to his mum and dad.
Pauline said she had taken a bag filled with some of her son’s old things: "He was rummaging through the bag like it was Christmas day.
“His flip flops, he was really really pleased to have a pair of flip flops.
"I gave him some money and the letter from [brother] Nathan and a picture… He kept hold of them. He wouldn't allow any of the nurses to take them.
“I am hoping that he has read the letter and pictures that Nathan has sent."
The doctors in Spain have told Matthew's parents that he is suffering paranoia and potentially schizophrenia.
Pauline added: "It's a whole new ball game and we just don't know what to do. We're going to try as much as we can to help Matt and get him back to the UK and we can work with the NHS and mental health in the UK."
Earlier this month a Kent Police spokesman said Mr Green had been found in Europe.
He added: "Matthew Green was 26 years old when he was reported missing, and European authorities confirmed in May 2016 that he had been located in Europe.
"His family has been informed and Kent Police has closed its missing person inquiry as of 16 May 2016."
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