A Brit who was missing four four days in Italy has been found and reunited with his family after disappearing from a hospital.
Kei Hixor, 21, vanished on July 13 in his mother’s hometown Cava de Tirreni, near Salerno, while on holiday with his parents and brother.
Fears arose when it was discovered that the last signal from his Apple watch had located him near the coast.
But his family today shared their message of relief after he was found ‘tired, hungry, and exhausted’ in the countryside between Pontecagnano and Bellizzi.
In a post to Facebook, Kei’s cousin Rita Criscuolo wrote: ‘HE HAS BEEN FOUND.
‘The family thanks from the bottom of the heart the way you supported us, the participation you had and the thought even just to share the news, you helped us immensely. Thank you again’.
Kei Hixor, 21, went missing four days ago while on holiday in Salerno, Italy, with his parents and brother but was found today in the countryside of Pontecagnano and Bellizzi
Kei was dashed to hospital after falling ill on Saturday, but later left alone and vanished. His Apple watch last detected him on the Salerno coast. Pictured: Salerno city, Italy, Europe
Local reports stated the young man fell ill on Saturday before he was rushed to nearby San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona hospital.
After being examined by medics, Kei reportedly left the hospital at around 8pm before disappearing alone without a trace.
The Brit, who was was wearing a Nike t-shirt and blue shorts at the time and only speaks English, was not carrying a mobile phone or any documents with him, according to Italian media.
Kei was, however, wearing an Apple watch and the last signal emitted from the device located him on the Salerno coast.
His parent’s quickly filed a missing person’s report and local police scrambled to begin the hunt for the tourist.
Local media yesterday reported that the search efforts were extended into the surrounding areas, and across Naples.
Criscuolo also launched a desperate appeal on the Cava de Tirreni Facebook page when he was still missing.
The appeal read: ‘MISSING! My cousin Kei hasn’t been home for two days.
‘He went out to Salerno on Saturday night but hasn’t come back.
‘He has no phone or documents with him and only speaks English. He was wearing a gray t-shirt (the one in the photo)’.
She then urged viewers to reach out to her or Kei’s family, or contact the Cava de Tirreni Police if they had any information on her cousin’s whereabouts.
Kei’s disappearance came after authorities launched a desperate hunt for a missing Briton who vanished in the Sardinian countryside on Saturday.
Michael, 25, was reported missing on Sunday afternoon as firefighters and the Forest Guard began a frantic search near Luogosanto, his mother Cristina Pittalis said in a plea on Sunday.
‘He is a very sweet boy, you can approach him without fear, please, if you see him stop him, talk to him, but don’t leave him alone,’ Ms Pittalis said.
Michael, 25, vanished in the Sardinian countryside on Saturday before his mother reported him missing on Sunday
‘He is a very sweet boy, you can approach him without fear, please, if you see him stop him, talk to him, but don’t leave him alone,’ his mother said in a desperate plea
Michael went missing in northern Sardinia on Saturday before authorities began searches
Michael is believed to have disappeared in Valdicorru on Saturday at 5:18pm after stripping himself of belongings.
‘He is confused, thinner than in the photos,’ his mother said in her desperate appeal for help.
Ms Pittalis called on locals to assist in her search as she prepares to travel from England to Sardinia to help search efforts.
She said that police were alerted to Michael’s disappearance at 1pm on Sunday, but that now ‘your help is crucial’.
‘If you get a chance, please go and help with the [investigation],’ she wrote on Facebook.
‘But don’t go alone, blindly… talk to fire groups, or civil protection, offer your support, ask what and how you can help.’
Firefighters and the Forest Guard are currently ‘doing their best’ to help find Michael.
Michael was one of three people who have been missing since Sunday in northern Sardinia, Italian media has reported.
An elderly Italian tourist also disappeared on holiday in Valledoria, and an elderly woman vanished in Stintino.
The missing tourist in Valledoria was identified only as a tourist with health problems, holidaying in the region.
The tourist in Stintino was identified as Carla Visentin when her family alerted authorities.
She was reported to have disappeared from the area of Cala Lupo on Sunday.
She also has health problems and moves with difficulty, according to local media.
Authorities have been engaged in a ‘non-stop’ search for the three missing people since Sunday evening, La Repubblica reported.