See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:28 BST, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 22:06 BST, 2 July 2026
An England fan feared dead after he went missing on his way to the World Cup two weeks ago has been found in a pub in Barcelona.Michael Hewitt, 65, was 'blissfully unaware' of the frantic international search for him, and was only identified after a British policeman on holiday spotted his Leeds United shirt.The footie fanatic, known as 'Little Mick', left his native Leeds on June 20, telling his family he was heading to Boston to watch England's match against Ghana on June 23 via Barcelona.But he never arrived in Massachusetts and made no contact home - leaving his family to believe he had 'vanished without a trace'.They launched a desperate appeal to track him down, fearing the worst when they saw his phone had gone offline, and shared his picture around the world.His brother Gary has admitted he thought he would 'never hear Mick's voice again'.The family's living nightmare finally came to an end thanks to a British policeman - and a football saluteThe officer was in Barcelona on holiday when he came across Mick casually sipping a drink in a bar while wearing a Leeds United shirt. Michael Hewitt, known to friends as 'Little Mick', was heading to Boston to watch the Three Lions play when he suddenly lost contact with his loved ones Mick's loved ones said they last heard from him during the early hours of June 21, and that it remains unknown whether he travelled beyond SpainA Leeds fan himself, the policeman and Mick exchanged the club's salute: a clenched right hand over the heart.It was only later that the officer recognised the missing Brit in a social media post - and promptly got in touch with the Barcelona police to report his discovery.Before long, Gary was on the phone to his brother - later recalling the urge to both 'hug' and 'strangle' him.It turned out Mick had only ever been planning on travelling on to Boston if he secured a ticket to the England-Ghana game - which he failed to do.He also lost his phone shortly after arriving in Barcelona, but was so unfazed he did not feel the need to notify his family.Instead, he spent ten days taking it easy and sampling the local cerveza.Gary told the Athletic: 'Because he still had his wallet and passport he saw no reason to go to the Embassy or to let us know.'He’s just been pottering about in Barcelona.'Gary said he and his sister had thought any phone call would be a request to identify Mick's body - and so were delighted to hear the good news. His phone is now out of service and his social media accounts remain untouched Michael's brother said the dedicated Leeds United fan (right) would be a familiar face to many across the world, having followed the club to home and away games for decadesHe said: 'It was a feeling of a huge weight being lifted, just to hear his voice. 'When you’ve given up on hearing a voice again, and you hear it, the feeling is really hard to describe.'Gary said he told Mick to go home, make a cup of tea, and read through all the messages online from concerned loved ones.He added: 'Mick’s in the rare position of finding out what people truly think about him while he’s still alive.'
