An off-duty police officer located a missing Leeds United and England soccer fan safe in a Barcelona pub on July 1, 2026, ending a ten-day search.
The man had lost his phone while traveling to the World Cup in the United States.
Michael Hewitt, a 65-year-old retired trade union official from Leeds, vanished on June 21 after sending a final text message from Spain.
He had stopped over before a planned flight to Boston to watch England play Ghana.
The search involved West Yorkshire Police checking his home in Adel, while the Hewitt family contacted Spanish authorities and Interpol.
His passport showed no record of entry into the United States.
An off-duty officer wearing a Leeds United shirt recognized Hewitt in a Barcelona establishment when they exchanged a traditional football salute.
The officer later confirmed his identity via social media alerts back at his hotel.
Gary Hewitt, the brother of the missing fan, expressed relief after learning that Michael was completely oblivious to the international search efforts because he lacked access to internet communication.
"He vanished without a trace," Gary said.
Before being located, the missing man was last seen by a bar owner in Barcelona who reported that Hewitt appeared healthy and had uploaded images to social media before his device went missing.
"Little Mick is safe and well in Barcelona, blissfully unaware that the whole world was searching for him," Gary Hewitt said.
The family clarified that Hewitt remained in Spain after losing his electronic device, which prevented him from retrieving his digital airline tickets to travel across the Atlantic.
"As a family, we desperately wanted an embarrassingly simple but happy ending to this horrendous episode and we now have that," Gary added.
The retired official has been a dedicated supporter of Leeds United since the 1960s and frequently journeys abroad to follow international football matches.
"It's amazing what can be achieved when the good people of the world Go Marching On Together," Gary said.
Following the discovery, the family extended their appreciation to the global football community and members of the public who distributed information online to assist in tracking him down.
The family confirmed that Hewitt intends to delay his return to the United Kingdom, choosing instead to remain in Spain to view the upcoming England match.
"A million thanks to each and every person who has helped to bring Mick home safely, and for all the good wishes," Gary said.
