UK man goes on incredible search for Dad he hadn’t seen in two decades – and finds him in Australia

There were plenty of tears in the 8 West ward. Nurses were crying, so too were the other patients in the four-bed room.

But these were tears of joy.

Because after 19 years of not seeing him, and an international search, Addy Reehal had finally tracked down his father, Raj, to a bed at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Addy’s search came to an end in late March after his father was robbed and bashed while living on the streets. 

Armed with nothing more than a photograph of his father 20 years ago, the 34-year-old trawled the streets until he found him.

Thanks to a train station master, who recognised the man in Addy’s picture and directed him towards the hospital, the father and son were reunited for the first time almost 20 years.

Addy Reehal (left) tracked down his father Raj (right) in Melbourne this week, almost 20 years after he last saw him. Raj moved to Australia to work and send money back to his family, but along the way fell on hard times and ended up homeless – that was when Addy came to rescue him

Having not heard from his dad in almost a year Addy, 34, saved up his holidays and flew out to Australia to look for him. Armed with only a two decade old photo of Raj, now 63, Addy walked the streets hoping that someone would recognise his father

Having not heard from his dad in almost a year Addy, 34, saved up his holidays and flew out to Australia to look for him. Armed with only a two decade old photo of Raj, now 63, Addy walked the streets hoping that someone would recognise his father

Raj had moved to Australia in 2000, working hard to send money back to his wife, Satnam, and their two sons, Addy and Gurnam, so they could eventually leave their home in Punjab, a region in northern India.

He spent time in Sydney before going to live with his brother – who years earlier had also moved to Australia – but after a number of years the pair had a falling out.

Around that same time Raj lost his job and was forced to sleep rough on the streets of Melbourne, leaving him with few possessions and very little money – and more importantly, no way of contacting his distant family.

Having not heard from his father for close to a year, Addy saved up his holidays and came to Australia to walk the streets in a desperate bid to rescue him – with only an old photo to help.

When the pair met face-to-face for the first time in two decades, Raj tearfully admitted that on the nights he spent sleeping on a train station platform he thought to himself: ‘I may die without ever seeing my family again.’

Addy said he initially didn’t give much thought to his dad leaving behind his family and moving so far away.

‘That’s how our culture works. Dad came to Australia to work for his parents and for us,’ his youngest son told Daily Mail Australia.

‘After he’d been gone eight or ten years we said to him: “You’ve worked enough for us it’s time to come back now”.

‘But he refused. He always said: “When I get tired I’m going to tell you and then your time starts”. But he never did.’

Initially Raj worked hard and sent enough money back to his family that they were able to leave India for a new life in Northern Ireland.

For the first decade or so that he was in Melbourne, Raj regularly kept in touch with his family, calling every two or three weeks and always sending the money back on time.

But while his loved ones were flourishing, half a world away he began to struggle.

When he initially moved to Australia, Raj (right) kept in regular contact with his family over the phone. But Addy (left) said that contact ended about 12 months ago

When he initially moved to Australia, Raj (right) kept in regular contact with his family over the phone. But Addy (left) said that contact ended about 12 months ago

After visiting Adelaide and Sydney without luck, Addy arrived in Melbourne to continue the search earlier this week. A family friend said the last time he saw Raj was at Tarneit train station - so after walking around the CBD, Addy took his search there

After visiting Adelaide and Sydney without luck, Addy arrived in Melbourne to continue the search earlier this week. A family friend said the last time he saw Raj was at Tarneit train station – so after walking around the CBD, Addy took his search there

Raj holds up the photo of himself from almost 20 years ago that Addy showed to people as he walked the streets of Melbourne

Raj holds up the photo of himself from almost 20 years ago that Addy showed to people as he walked the streets of Melbourne

‘Slowly we came to know something was not right – when my brother and I would call he didn’t answer,’ Addy said.

After saving up his holidays Addy decided to take three weeks off and fly to Australia earlier this month, along with his mother, to try and find the man he hadn’t seen since he was a kid.

They arrived in Adelaide last weekend and went straight to their family friend’s home to see if they knew about his father’s whereabouts.

ADDY’S SEARCH TO FIND HIS DAD: 

September 2000: Raj leaves his home in the Punjab region of India and moves to Australia.

This is the last time Raj sees his wife and two sons. 

2008: After Raj saves enough money, his family are able to leave India for a new life in Northern Ireland.

Raj is still in regular contact with his wife and sons. 

2018: Raj had been living with his own brother in Melbourne, but is made homeless after they have a falling out.

Mid-2018: This is the last time Addy and his brother have regular contact with their father. They soon realise he may need their help.

March 2019: After saving up his holidays, Addy and his mother arrive in Australia.

They land in Adelaide, before going to Sydney and finally taking the search to Melbourne.

– March 26: Addy finally reunites with his father for the first time in 19 years at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne.

They didn’t, but told Addy to visit friends in Sydney, near where their dad lived when he first arrived in Australia.

With no luck again, mother and son decided to travel to Melbourne – the last place to which Raj had been linked.

‘I booked a hotel which was about 20 minutes from Southern Cross train station, so when I got in I began walking,’ Addy said.

‘I didn’t want to catch a taxi. I knew it was a needle in a haystack, but I thought: “If I walk, maybe I’ll bump into dad somewhere?”.’

After a number of calls to his father’s ex-employers, Addy was finally put in touch with someone who had seen his father recently – a week or so earlier when he had given him a lift to Tarneit train station, in Melbourne’s west.

Proving his best lead so far, Addy left his mother in the hotel room to rest and hopped on a train to Tarneit with the old photo of his father in hand.

He very quickly found out that he was getting close. 

‘I spoke to the station attendant and showed him that photo and he said: “Oh I know that man”,’ Addy said.

‘He said: “Is his name Raj?” I couldn’t believe it… I left my number and said: “If you see him, keep him at the station and call me, I’ll be here within an hour”.

‘The man said: “OK, but I haven’t seen him in three or four days, and the last time I saw him he was in trouble”.’

What Addy didn’t know was that while his dad had been in Tarneit a few days earlier, he was now in hospital some 30km away in Melbourne’s CBD.

After hitting a number of dead ends Addy followed a lead to Tarneit station (pictured), in Melbourne's west, where he showed the photo of his father around. He left his phone number with a station attendant who said: 'I haven't seen him in three or four days, and the last time I saw him he was in trouble'

After hitting a number of dead ends Addy followed a lead to Tarneit station (pictured), in Melbourne’s west, where he showed the photo of his father around. He left his phone number with a station attendant who said: ‘I haven’t seen him in three or four days, and the last time I saw him he was in trouble’

What Addy didn't know was that while he was out searching in Tarneit, his dad was at St Vincent's Public Hospital in the city. While sleeping rough at the train station Raj had been assaulted and robbed, leading him to be transferred to the city

What Addy didn’t know was that while he was out searching in Tarneit, his father was actually at St Vincent’s Public Hospital in the city. While sleeping rough at the train station Raj had been assaulted and robbed, leading him to be transferred to hospital 

Raj and Addy enjoy a laugh with Lindsey Dobeson, the manager of the 8 West ward at St Vincent's. Ms Dobeson said that when Raj was brought into the hospital he was confused and incoherent, leading a social worker to ring Tarneit train station in an attempt to find out more about the patient. By chance she spoke to the same station attendant, who gave her Addy's number

Raj and Addy enjoy a laugh with Lindsey Dobeson, the manager of the 8 West ward at St Vincent’s. Ms Dobeson said that when Raj was brought into the hospital he was confused and incoherent, leading a social worker to ring Tarneit train station in an attempt to find out more about the patient. By chance she spoke to the same station attendant, who gave her Addy’s number

'The social worker called me and said: "Are you looking for someone call Raj?" I went numb... I told her I was his son and she gave me the address to the hospital and I caught the train in,' Addy recalls

‘The social worker called me and said: “Are you looking for someone call Raj?” I went numb… I told her I was his son and she gave me the address to the hospital and I caught the train in,’ Addy recalls

Just days before his son arrived at the station to look for him, Raj had been robbed and assaulted while sleeping.

The incident left Raj feeling a bit worse for wear and so he was taken to St Vincent’s Public Hospital for a check up.

But with his wallet gone and the effects of the robbery leaving him incoherent, nurses at the hospital found it hard to work out exactly who their new mystery patient was.

‘He (Raj) came with no ID, so the social worker was trying to work out who he was because he was quite confused when he first arrived,’ Lindsey Dobeson, the manager of the 8 West ward, said.

‘She knew he’d come from Tarneit station so she called and by chance spoke to the same station attendant Addy had spoken to that day.

‘He asked the social worker to describe the man and said: “I think we have his son here looking for him”.

‘It’s one of those moments where the universe was working together, because the station attendant said he was about to walk out the door to end his shift when he took the call.” 

Addy had planned to stay at Tarneit station until the last train left, but in between trains had wandered over to the nearby Tarneit shopping centre.

There, as he sat at a table in the food court thinking ‘what do I do next?’, the St Vincent’s social worker rang.

‘She said to me: “Are you looking for someone call Raj?” I went numb… I told her I was his son and she gave me the address to the hospital and I caught the train in,’ Addy said.

He admits that the whole way in on the train all he could think about was how he was going to react.

Was it actually his dad? Was he going to notice him after 20 years? Why was he in hospital? Was he going to be OK?

‘I went into his room and a nurse was in there and she said to me: “Can I help you?”,’ Addy recalls.

‘I said: “I am looking for Mr Janak Raj”. She said to me: “Are you the son?” I nodded and she had this big smile – her lips were touching her ears.

‘The curtains were closed, so I stood at the end of the bed and she opened them.

Addy vividly remembers walking into his father's hospital room (pictured) and having a nurse ask him if he need help. 'I said: "I am looking for Mr Janak Raj"... she said: "Are you the son?" I nodded and she had a big smile - her lips were touching her ears.'

Addy vividly remembers walking into his father’s hospital room (pictured) and having a nurse ask him if he need help. ‘I said: “I am looking for Mr Janak Raj”… she said: “Are you the son?” I nodded and she had a big smile – her lips were touching her ears.’

Addy said that when his father first saw him he did not know who it was. When he told him that he was his son, Raj could not believe it. 'He was shocked, all he said was: "How did you find me? How did you find me?" He just kept saying it!' Addy recalls

Addy said that when his father first saw him he did not know who it was. When he told him that he was his son, Raj could not believe it. ‘He was shocked, all he said was: “How did you find me? How did you find me?” He just kept saying it!’ Addy recalls

'I may die without ever seeing my family again': Raj tearfully admitted what was running through his mind on those nights he spent sleeping on a train station platform

‘I may die without ever seeing my family again’: Raj tearfully admitted what was running through his mind on those nights he spent sleeping on a train station platform

One of the only photos taken of Raj (left) at their home in the Punjab region of India, prior to him moving to Australia in 2000

One of the only photos taken of Raj (left) at their home in the Punjab region of India, prior to him moving to Australia in 2000

‘My full name is Winder, which is a common name in India, so when I saw dad I said: “It’s Winder”. 

‘But he didn’t recognise me, because I was just a teenager when he last saw me so he said to me: “Which Winder?”

‘I said: “It’s Winder, your youngest son”.

‘He was shocked. The first thing he said was: “How did you find me? How did you find me?” He just kept saying it… so I told him: “I said I would come to find you and I found you”.’

As his son re-tells the story Raj sits across the table fighting back tears.

‘I thought I would die without seeing my family again,’ the now clean shaven and smartly dressed father-of-two admits.

Having rescued his dad from the streets of a foreign country, Addy now plans to take him back to Northern Ireland to meet his two daughters – the grandchildren Raj has never seen in person.

He says that in the days since they were reunited, people have told him his story it sounds more like the script for a Hollywood blockbuster than real life.

But he says it’s simply what you do for your those you love.

‘We have a saying: “If you decide to do something with your heart, the whole universe gets together to help you do it”,’ Addy said.

‘I think this was our time.’ 

Pictured: The first photo Raj (left), had with his wife Satnam (centre) and youngest son Addy (right), after being reunited

Pictured: The first photo Raj (left), had with his wife Satnam (centre) and youngest son Addy (right), after being reunited 

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