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Missing Man From Huddersfield Found Sleeping Rough In Lapland

Missing Man From Huddersfield Found Sleeping Rough In Lapland

A man from Huddersfield who went missing over a year ago has been found in Lapland after a Swedish man's social media appeal went viral.

Trial User-fifthteen

Trial User-fifthteen

A man who went missing from West Yorkshire last year has been found in Lapland as a result of a social media appeal by a Swedish man.

Nial Atkin, who is originally from Huddersfield, disappeared on 13th May 2020 and was sleeping rough when he was taken in by a man living in

Kiruna, Sweden, the Metro reports.

On Friday 9th July Jerry Ahlqvist offered shelter, a shower and a bed to a homeless man - unbeknownst to him that this was someone the police were searching for in Britain.

Officers originally thought that Nial may have been living in Scotland after the 26-year-old IT worker suffered a mental breakdown.

On Saturday, Jerry posted an appeal on Facebook with a picture of Nial.

He wrote: "'So yesterday I found a homeless person that was acting a bit strange, he seemed confused and was just walking back and forth.

"I brought him home and cleaned him, gave him some food and new clothes, and a clean bed to sleep in.


Jerry Ahlqvist -
Facebook

"He is kind of hard to communicate with, he gets lost in his thoughts, takes a long time to answer questions and he just stares into nothing.

"He has told me some information about himself but he ends every sentence with 'sort of' so the information can also be incorrect."

"I can't help the feeling that his family is concerned about his whereabouts and maybe looking for him, also he is confused and he is not capable of taking care of himself"

In an attempt to potentially help reunite the man with his family he wrote: "I think he needs some help but I don't know what to do?

"Help me help him?

"Share and try finding his family?"

The Facebook post quickly gained lots of attention and users recognised the homeless man to be the same person featured in a Police Scotland appeal issued last year.


Nial Atkin -
Facebook

The Swede managed to get in contact with Nial's mum and posted another status on Facebook which said: "UPDATE! We have found his mother and I have spoken with her on the phone.

"Everything will be sorted out.

"The thing is that Nial is in a psychotic state and he does not know what he wants or what's best for him.

"But we will figure this out.

"His mother knows and understands because she has a psychiatric education and I know and understand because I have myself gone through treatment for schizophrenia and have suffered psychosis myself so I saw the signs from across the streets.

"Everything will be okay and we will try to get the proper treatment for him!

'THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT! We did it!'

Yesterday Jerry set up a Go Fund Me to raise money for any medical treatment Nial may need.

Jerry Ahlqvist/Facebook
Jerry Ahlqvist/Facebook

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: 'Kirklees Police were contacted on Sunday July 11 2021 by a caller who made a missing person's report about a 26-year-old male who was said to be missing and believed to be in Sweden.

"Officers have now spoken with a resident in Sweden who has confirmed they have had contact with the missing person and enquiries currently remain ongoing."

A Foreign Office spokesman claimed they are providing support to Nial and his family.

Featured Image Credit: Credit: West Yorkshire Police

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