The parents of a man who went missing six years ago have been given fresh hope that they will be reunited with their son.
Matthew Green, 32, was this month spotted in Spain after he vanished from his home in Sittingbourne, Kent, in May 2010.
His parents Jim and Pauline were delighted to hear their son was alive but their joy soon turned to sorrow when they were informed that data protection laws meant they could not contact him or even know where in the country he is.
But in the latest twist to the tale, the Greens appeared on This Morning on Wednesday where they revealed they had received word from a doctor treating Matthew on a psychiatric ward, who has invited them to visit him.
The couple have been told their son is refusing help or medicine and say they have been asked to fly to Spain with his medical records in order to assist with his recovery.
Host Philip Schofield asked: “Are you mentally prepared yourself? You’ve been so strong so far, if he doesn’t want you back in his life?"
While Mrs Green admitted her son may still be reluctant to make contact with his family, she said: “I have thought about that but I have also thought that there must be a glimmer, that he does want us back in his life.
“I think we have just got to cling onto whatever we can, with the hopes that he can get better and then we can go from there.”
The Greens were visited at their home by a police officer on 3 May to inform them their son had been found.
Mr Green said: “It has been a roller-coaster from not knowing for six years. When you get information like this, your emotions are running.
“It just shows you the power of the media and social media.”
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