Missing 14-year-old travels 700 kilometres to see Zugspitze

A 14-year-old reported missing travelled about 700 kilometres by train from a youth facility in North Rhine-Westphalia to Garmisch-Partenkirchen because he wanted to see the Zugspitze, BR reported.

After arriving in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Thursday, the boy lost track of time and missed the last train back to Munich. He had planned to travel from Munich on Friday to return to his residential group in North Rhine-Westphalia, so he spent the night at the station.

Federal police officers found him there at about 3.30am on Friday. During a check, they discovered that he had been reported missing.

Police in Mönchengladbach then contacted the youth facility and the boy’s legal guardian by telephone. His father bought him an online ticket, and, in agreement with the facility, the 14-year-old was allowed to begin his journey home that morning.

It is not known what impression Germany’s highest mountain made on him.