Overview
- Michael Hewitt, a 65‑year‑old Leeds United supporter, lost contact after a Barcelona stopover on 21 June and was reported missing when his phone went out of service.
- His family alerted West Yorkshire police, the FCDO and the British Embassy in Spain, and Interpol was notified as the search widened across borders.
- The embassy traced recent card payments to identify the hotel where Hewitt was staying and contacted his relatives to confirm his location.
- A holidaying English police officer recognised Hewitt wearing a Leeds shirt in a Barcelona bar, which helped complete the reunion after authorities confirmed his identity.
- Hewitt had been watching England matches in local bars and was unaware of the search, a case that underlines the vulnerability of travellers who keep e‑tickets and contacts only on smartphones and the practical role consular teams can play using transactional data.