Missing man found alive after family searched 'every day' for 18 months

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The family of a missing man have spoken of their delight and relief after he was found alive following 18 months of frantic searching.

Shane Barnett disappeared after he was seen on CCTV leaving the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on May 7, 2023. South Wales Police and his devastated family spent countless hours searching for the 49-year-old but for a year and a half there had been no confirmed sightings, the Mirror reports.

However, Shane has now been found. South Wales Police confirmed on Facebook, writing: "Shane Barnett, 49, who was reported as missing in May last year has been found. Thank you to everyone who shared our appeals."

A number of emotional appeals had previously issued by Shane's family in the hope someone might have information about his whereabouts. Diane Bush, his mother, took to Facebook on Sunday to thank those who played a part in locating her son, WalesOnline reports.

Commenting on South Wales Police's Facebook post, Diane said: "I cannot thank you all for all your shares over the last 18mths, and as for the police, I cannot thank you enough, you have never given up looking and followed up on any leads, and in the end you found him, thank you so much."

Shane's sister, Nicola Casey, added: "Thankyou so much South Wales Police Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan and to everyone that shared the posts for the last 18 months. To all the families that have a missing relative my brother is proof that there is hope don't give up searching."

Police had told the family that Shane, who grew up in Bettws, may no longer be alive, Nicola revealed earlier this year. The family did not give up hope, though, and searched every day in the hope of finding him.

Shane's sister told WalesOnline at the time: "I have spent hours daily searching every inch of Cardiff since he went missing. I've put posters up, I've posted his picture on any Cardiff social media pages I could find. I've had many people message me with possible sightings which I'm so grateful for, I've gone there to check and unfortunately it hasn't been him but I won't stop checking."

Diane previously admitted she would "never stop looking" for Shane and described South Wales Police's response as "amazing". The case was even featured on Channel 5's Vanished: The Search for Britain's Missing where Diane spoke directly to her son.

She said: "We miss you, we love you and we are desperately trying to find you. Please get in touch. We've searched high and low, all weathers. We won't give up on you - never. I know you like to prove people wrong, and I've been told there's a possibility that you may no longer be alive. So prove them wrong; show us you're alive.

"I will come anywhere you want to, to see you. Anywhere at all. Just please get in touch. You have no idea how much you are missed and loved."

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