A Swindon man who went missing after absconding from hospital has been found alive and well. 

On April 8, Michael Vertannes, 31, disappeared in his slippers from the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, where he had been admitted but not discharged, after getting on a bus. 

This sparked an appeal from Wiltshire Police and social media pleas from his sister, Joanne. 

But on April 9, Joanne shared an update to say that Michael had been found in Marlborough thanks to tip-offs from members of the public. 

"Thank you all for sharing and especially the two anonymous callers, one who followed and stayed with me on the phone until I got there. We wouldn't have found him if it wasn't for these two callers and everyone who shared the posts," she said. 

"A massive thank you to my auntie Aisling Campbell-Webb for searching all day with me including being in an ankle-deep mud search through the forest in the rain, when we received the second call."

The public responded massively to help find Michael, and the post on the Swindon Community Notice Board had been shared over 630 times. 

She added: "His medical needs for his physical treatment could have resulted in sepsis which is life-threatening so I am so happy we found him and he can get the care he needs."