Missing man, 27, found on beach 500 miles away from home 161 days after disappearing
The 27-year-old's disappearance raised alarm bells as police warned it was unusual for him to leave his residence as he was struggling with both depression and paranoia about coronavirus.
A man in the US has been found alive almost 500 miles away from his home after disappearing for around 18 months. Harley McCourt was reported missing on October 2, 2021 after leaving his home without either his mobile or wallet. But the 27-year-old was later tracked down at around 3am on March 11, with McCourt's family receiving a phone call revealing he had been found at the side of the road.
McCourt, originally reported missing to Pulaski County Sheriff's Office in his native Arkansas, was found in Galveston, Texas.
The sheriff's office previously described McCourt as a "hermit" and his family handed out flyers, bought billboard space and even offered a £8,071 ($10,000) reward for information which could lead to him.
His mother, Kim McCourt, issued a statement on March 12 which said: "Yesterday I got to put my arms around my son. Something I had prayed hard for since October 2021.
"Harley is back with his family and my heart is full again. Thank you all for the prayers and support."
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McCourt's sister Brittany Crumpton also told KARK-TV: "Every day just trying to find something, anything. I felt like an investigator.
"Your mind just wanted to tell you, ‘No, he’s not alive. He’s not alive'.
"But my heart just… said he’s alive somewhere and he’s out there."
McCourt was released by authorities after he was tracked down because he had not committed any crimes.
He was carrying his backpack at the time which included his family's contact information for if he ever got lost.
After learning McCourt's location, his sister and mother drove for seven hours to collect him.
The pair headed to the beach in a golf cart and towards the end of the day they heard someone call out his mother's name.
Crumpton told KARK-TV: "She looked up, and I just like threw all my seashells down, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' I couldn’t believe it, he was walking down the beach, he had an umbrella, his glasses, and he had a COVID mask on still."
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Harley McCourt was found safe today in Galveston, Texas. He went missing on October 2, 2021 during a battle with depression. His family is stunned that he is alive and safe. #FOUND pic.twitter.com/tzJuISdCYv
— Rose (@901Lulu) March 29, 2023
In a word of encouragement to other people looking for lost loved ones, she added: "Don’t give up.
"Keep the faith.… Keep pictures out. Keep it going because someone will see him."
McCourt's family revealed that it is not yet known how he became lost and homeless.
He is now receiving mental health treatment.
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