German man who lived at Mallorca airport for four years to return home

A German man who fled from his wife and family and then lived for four years at Mallorca airport because he had nowhere else to go has decided to fly home. Architect Rene Becker, 57, vanished four years ago from his home in Mainz after accusing his wife Edith, 51, of cheating on him and having an affair.

But after living at the airport for four years he became the focus of a German newspaper article a week ago - and he now has received an unexpected visit this week when his daughter Patricia, 24, and wife flew to see him to persuade him to come home. They had not tried to contact him believing that he had managed to acquire a luxury villa in Spain - not realising he had spent all his money years ago.

Pushing a grubby suitcase and with a huge beard he burst into tears when he saw the pair in the airport lounge and said: "I think I might have made a mistake. I think it's time for me to come home to Germany."

Rene had been allowed to wash in the local police station, had eaten in the airport canteen for a special price of two euros and earned cash by helping out around the airport.