Robin van Helsum persuaded Berlin officials he was an orphaned ‘Forest Boy’ who lived in the woods. Now his Dutch identity is revealed – and his troubled story with it. ABC News wants confirmation that the forest boy has the Dutch nationality, more information about his life and contact to family and friends.
The ‘forest boy’ emerged in the German capital on September 5 last year and told authorities he had been living in the forest with his father since the death of his mother in a car accident five years previously. When his father died, the boy said he buried him in the forest and then walked to Berlin.
According to a former housemate, it is definitely Robin. ‘He had personal problems and this is his way of beginning a new life,’ he told Nos.
For this assignment Featurez did research, organised contact with the Dutch police, traced down the journalist that made and exclusive interview with Van Helsum, and gave news updates.