Cover image via Chee Heng Kuan (Facebook)
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British teenager David Balisong, 17, who went missing in Malaysia since 7 June, was found safe last night at a budget hostel in Kuala Lumpur, significantly underweight after surviving on fast food
His mother, Minerva Balisong, 51, expressed gratitude to Malaysians for their help in finding her son.
"I am very happy and grateful that we finally found our son. I want to thank everyone who contributed to the search for David.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart," she said, visibly emotional.
She confirmed that David was in good condition and able to communicate, though he appeared slightly shocked by the events.
The discovery followed a tip to social activist Kuan Chee Heng, also known as Uncle Kentang
According to his Facebook post, he received a message from a foreign number about a young man resembling David in a budget hostel.
Kuan immediately asked a friend to contact the Kuala Lumpur police chief, who dispatched officers from D9 to the location.
While describing the events, Kuan shared that the team waited while the person was showering, and when he opened the bathroom door, a police officer stopped him and confirmed his identity using his passport.
Kuan called David's mother via video call, and she recognised her son and cried uncontrollably. David was then brought back to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.
The teen had reportedly rented a room with four other travellers from various countries
During his disappearance, he survived by eating fast food, resulting in significant weight loss.
David, from Cheadle, Greater Manchester, had informed his younger sibling on 6 June that he was leaving early for school due to GCE A-Level exams.
His family realised he was missing only after he failed to return home, prompting a missing person report.
UK police later confirmed that he had flown alone from Manchester Airport and was granted a 90-day visa upon arrival in Malaysia.
Kuan credited the public, media, and authorities for helping locate David, writing: "I am not taking any credit. The credit goes to the public who shared and helped. Without all of you, we will never be able to locate David."
