A family has shared their relief after a man was found alive 18 months after he first disappeared from outside a hospital.
Shane Barnett, 49, vanished after leaving the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on May 7 2023.
Despite police fears he may no longer be alive, his family did not give up hope and continued to search for him every day.
Thanking all those who shared the appeal, Shane’s sister Nicola Casey said the case was ‘proof’ to families with missing relatives not to lose hope.
South Wales Police announced on Sunday that Shane had been found, the Mirror reported.
In an update on Facebook, the force wrote: ‘Shane Barnett, 49, who was reported as missing in May last year has been found. Thank you to everyone who shared our appeals.’
Shane’s mother Diane Bush, who had vowed to ‘never stop looking’ for him, thanked officers for their ‘amazing’ help and support.
She said: ‘I cannot thank you all for all your shares over the last 18 months, and as for the police, I cannot thank you enough, you have never given up looking and followed up on any leads, and in the end you found him, thank you so much.’
Over the 18 months, Ms Casey said she had spent hours every day searching for Shane, including putting up posters, sharing posts on local social media groups.
‘I’ve had many people message me with possible sightings which I’m so grateful for, I’ve gone there to check and unfortunately it hasn’t been him but I won’t stop checking’, she told WalesOnline at the time.
Shane’s case was previously featured on Channel 5’s Vanished: The Search for Britain’s Missing.
It included a direct message to Shane from Diane, who promised ‘we won’t give up on you’.
She said on the programme: ‘I will come anywhere you want to, to see you. Anywhere at all. Just please get in touch. You have no idea how much you are missed and loved.’