A 21-year-old American student who went missing while studying in France has been found in Spain "after seeing himself in the news".
Ken DeLand Jr was reported missing by his family at the end of November and during the past two weeks his loved ones tried to do all they could to find him.
His father Ken DeLand Sr had been complaining that French authorities were not doing enough to locate him but finally he has been found with his family hoping he will be home for Christmas.
In dramatic scenes the dad received a phone call and abruptly ended his interview with CNN.
And then later in the day, he he confirmed the happy news that his son has been found in Spain.
He said: "He is alive — that’s all I can say."
The student's family wrote an update on a page created in a bid to find him and said that Kenny had “seen himself in the news.”
The statement read: "We are so happy to announce that Kenny is safe. Kenny is in Spain, and Carol (his mom) is in France, preparing to see Kenny and hopefully bring him home for Christmas."
On Thursday, Interpol issued a Yellow Notice - which is put out to help locate missing persons, often minors, or to help identify anyone who cannot identify themselves.
The family has not revealed what happened to the son during the past two months or what exactly he has been but it added in the statement: "Without everyone's help, we wouldn't have our son, hopefully, home for Christmas."
“I couldn’t believe my eyes that he was actually calling. It was pretty emotional," said the dad when speaking again to CNN on Friday night. “It seems surreal, the whole situation and now its finally, last chapter.”
Mr DeLand Sr. said that his son had not yet told him why he was in Spain and had told him stop contacting the media.
“I said, ‘But Ken, this is what parents do. We’re worried about you,’” DeLand Sr. reportedly added.
