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Thirty-three years ago, 21-month-old Ben Needham disappeared while on a family holiday on the Greek island of Kos in 1991. Now, a man has come forward, claiming to be Ben, offering hope and uncertainty to his family.

Ben had been staying with his family at a farmhouse in Iraklis, near Kos town. On July 24, 1991, the young toddler was being looked after by his grandparents, Eddie and Christine Needham, while his mother, Kerry, was at work at a nearby hotel.

21-month-old Ben Needham disappeared on holiday on the Greek island of Kos in 1991

According to his grandparents, Ben had been playing around the farmhouse, going in and out. At around 2:30 pm, they realized he was missing. Despite an exhaustive search and numerous police interviews, authorities were left without any concrete leads until recent developments.

This week, a man in Denmark stepped forward, claiming to be the missing child from Lincolnshire. His DNA is being compared with Ben’s DNA, held by South Yorkshire Police, to provide Ben’s family with a conclusive answer.

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins, who previously led the investigation, believed the toddler might have died in an accident, though this was never confirmed. The new claim has revived the case and brought fresh energy to the search for the truth.

Speaking to the media, Ben’s mother, Kerry, expressed her anguish but remains hopeful. She has urged police to reinterview potential witnesses who may have lied or withheld information.