Boy Forced to Live in Forest with Father for 5 Years Found in Germany

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'I'm alone in the world. I don't know who I am': The first words of 'forest boy' who now wants to go back to live in the wild

The first words of Germany's mystery English-speaking ‘forest boy’, who is is said to have lived rough for five years, were: 'I'm alone in the world. I don't know who I am. Please help me.'

The teenager, known only as Ray and believed to be about 17 years of age, made his heartbreaking plea to German guards after walking out of the wilderness and presenting himself at Berlin City Hall.

The details have emerged on the same day it has been revealed that Ray is having trouble adjusting to conventional life, and has expressed a desire to return to the wild.

Sources close to the case claim he is having difficulty sleeping in a proper bed, while other creature comforts - such as soap, hot showers, and running water - are ‘unsettling’ the youngster.

He is thought to have spent at least five years sleeping rough in woods south of the German capital.

He handed himself in to officials on September 5 and was carrying a rucksack, tent and sleeping bag.

He told police his father had recently died after a fall and he had buried him under stones in a shallow grave. He then walked north for a fortnight until he reached Berlin.

An unnamed German civil servant, who claims to have had the first in-depth conversation with Ray, told the Daily Telegraph: 'He said he needed help, that he didn't know where to go and had no one in the world to look after him.

'I tried as much as I could to find out details about where he was from but he just didn't know.

'He seemed calm, not scared at all, but quiet. He said he had been told to go to Berlin if he ever needed help and had taken several weeks to walk here.

'He looked completely puzzled when I asked him if he had a passport or identity card, and I had to describe what they were.

'But he said he could read because his father had taught him.'

Despite the bizarre nature of the story, police have said it is credible. The source said it was ‘unsurprising’ the teenager found a soft bed so unusual if he had been sleeping rough for so long.

‘He has indicated that he would be far more comfortable on the forest floor and would prefer to return there to sleep,’ the source added.

The boy claimed that his father - identified only as Ryan - had taken him into the woods south of Berlin after his mother, Doreen, died in a car crash.

Now detectives have begun a search for the grave, or any other place where Ryan’s body might be lying.

The boy is unable to tell them exactly where he buried his father, but claimed he ‘followed his compass northwards’.

In the meantime, they are trying to make Ray a ward of court, so that an official can be appointed to make important decisions on his behalf.

DNA, fingerprint and dental records can also then be handed over to Interpol so that his records can be checked against those of missing children.

Police are baffled by the case, but say that everything Ray has told them so far adds up.

Officials believe the teenager could be British because he speaks English but only basic German. The British Consul is also working with police to try to solve the mystery.

Ray, who is 5ft 11in, with blond hair, is in good physical shape and had no signs of abuse apart from a small scar that is at least three years old.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2039398/Forest-boy-wants-to-wild-struggles-adjust-normal-life.html#ixzz1YZoqlTY1