Missing doctor found living in Tuscany forest after 19 years

A doctor who went missing from his home almost 20 years ago has been found living deep in a forest in Tuscany, Italy.

Carlos Sanchez Ortiz de Salazar, 45, disappeared from Seville in 1996. He was formally declared to be presumed dead by Spanish authorities in 2010.

See also: Dog missing for two years found swimming off Florida coast

See also: Missing British sailor found in North Sea

But two Italian mushroom pickers stumbled across his tent by chance in the Maremma region, and said he told them who we was, even showing them documents, including a university library card, which they photographed.

According to Sky News, he told them: "I'm Spanish, my name is Carlos and I've been living here since 1997.

"I don't want to live among people: now that you have found me I need to get out of here."

The pair passed on the photographs to an organisation called Penelope, which helps locate missing persons.

Mr Sanchez's family were tracked down and were delighted to hear he had been found alive.

He had been suffering from severe depression when he fled Spain at the age of 26. He was a graduate in medicine, and was born in Bilbao.

His family are now in Italy and have joined a search party looking for him. It appears he has moved camp after being spooked at being found.

According to the Daily Telegraph, speaking to Italian press, his mother Amelia, 65, said: "When they told us that it was him, it was as if our son had been born again.

"He's alive and that is the important thing. We will respect his wishes and his freedom, but we won't go home until we have at least given him a hug, even for a few moments."

The Local reports that it is not known how he managed to survive in the woods for so long.

Some theories suggest he found a way to cultivate food, while others suggest he undertakes midnight raids on dustbins at the edge of nearby towns like Scarlino.

Related video: