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4 months ago
22
The mother of a trainee barrister who disappeared in Majorca for 12 days after being robbed has told of her relief after finally being reunited with her son.
Ben Ross, 26, disappeared from the capital of Palma on July 10 after his mobile phone and wallet were stolen in a beach robbery on the Spanish island.
Mr Ross, of Golborne in Wigan, was found at the British consulate in the city 'suffering from dehydration and exhaustion' on Monday.
Now he has been reunited with his mother, Felix Robinson, who met her 'tired and drained - but alive' son at the consulate following his ordeal.
The reunion came as it was today revealed what will happen to the £3,800 donated as part of a fundraising campaign to help Ben.
Ben Ross, 26, (pictured with his mother, Felix Robinson) was found after having gone missing for 12 days on Majorca
Felix Robinson (right) has since told of her relief after being reunited with her son (left) after his ordeal on the Spanish island
Ben Ross was last seen and heard from on July 10 in Palma, Majorca. He later turned up at the British consulate in Palma
In a statement on the GoFundMe page, an overjoyed Felix wrote: 'I'm so incredibly grateful for all the help and support we've received.
'Everyone has been truly incredible. We are so relieved to have found him and are now focused on getting him back to full health and home safe and well.'
The fundraiser for Ben has now been closed. The £3,857 raised will now be donated to Andy's Man Club, a mental health charity supporting men across the UK.
The family is now arranging an emergency passport for Ben who will travel home once he has received treatment for 'dehydration and exhaustion'.
A statement issued on the family's behalf, by the GoFundMe organiser Carla Speight added: 'For now, Felix and her family are requesting some privacy whilst they get Ben back to full strength and home, and they want to extend their thanks to the press, media and public for all their support in finding him.'
Ben went to Palma to visit a friend and take a break from his law studies in June, but after picking up a temporary job decided to stay for the summer.
However, on July 6 his phone, keys and wallet were stolen while he took a swim in the sea, then he fell out with his flatmates shortly before he was last seen on July 10.
They were angry when he broke into the flat after coming home late from reporting the robbery and threatened to evict him.
Ben went to Palma to visit a friend and take a break from his law studies in June, but after picking up a temporary job decided to stay for the summer. Pictured: A social media post on April 30
Ben shared a picture on his social media showing he visited the Colosseum in Rome in March
In a final email to his mother Ben, who has struggled with his mental health previously, said he was unable to access his bank accounts because they were security protected via his mobile phone and he 'wasn't interested in what happened next,' which has left her extremely worried for his safety. Pictured: A photo from Ben's social media
In a final email to his mother Ben, who has struggled with his mental health previously, said he was unable to access his bank accounts because they were security protected via his mobile phone.
The message added that he 'wasn't interested in what happened next,' which left her extremely worried for his safety.
Mrs Robinson claimed she rang her local police, in Wigan and Leigh, at least twice a day from July 13 to report Ben missing.
When no one called her back, she walked into her local police station on July 17 and refused to leave until an officer had taken a statement. She also made a formal complaint, which she claims was closed without any contact from GMP.
She later said she felt 'fobbed' off by British police who she accused of 'failing' her son.
'It doesn't feel real,' she told MailOnline last week. 'I've followed the procedure on the Government website and I've begged them (GMP) for help, only to get nowhere.
'I'm so worried about Ben right now, if they'd done what they were supposed to in the beginning there's a chance we could've found him by now.
'But to fob this off without justification is incredibly distressing. I can't really put into words how I'm feeling.'
The trainee barrister had initially planned to visit a friend in Palma, Majorca, and later decided to extend his stay. Pictured: A stock photo of Palma de Mallorca
The trainee barrister (pictured), from Wigan, Greater Manchester, had his phone, keys and wallet stolen at a beach while he took a swim in the sea on July 6 and then fell out with his flatmates shortly before he was last seen
A spokesman for GMP said: 'All details have been passed to Spanish authorities via Interpol referral form which the informant is aware of.
'If the missing person re-enters the UK it will flag up and we will be made aware.'
On Thursday Spanish Police said a Homicide Unit had been put in charge of the search, as is practice in Spain even when there is no evidence to suggest someone has been killed.
Prior to being found, Mrs Robinson said she was 'going out of my mind with worry' and was visiting places on the island where Ben had been staying.
Mrs Robinson told MailOnline: 'I just want to find him, see he's okay and give him the biggest hug.
'I've started the search myself. I'm going to everywhere that's open today. Churches, the docks, anywhere that's open. If anyone has any information please let the authorities know.'
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