American Who Woke Up Only Speaking Swedish Travels To Europe For Answers

Michael Boatwright, an American who woke up in a California motel in February with amnesia and could only speak Swedish, has flown to Europe in an attempt to rebuild his life.

The 61-year-old arrived in Gothenburg on Tuesday, where he met Ewa Espling, an old girlfriend who he hadn’t seen in 30 years. Boatwright is hoping that by spending time together he might be able to remember his lost memories, which have so far evaded him.

After arriving in Europe, Boatwright told CNN, “I just want to be able to live a normal life and hopefully get my memory back.”

Boatwright decided to leave the United States because he felt like an outcast in his own country. His saving grace occurred after Espling recognized his face after hearing about his bizarre tale online.

Espling and Boatwright dated in the early 1980s, while he worked in Sweden as a designer, before they ultimately split in 1984.

Espling noted, “I think it’s the best solution for Michael, because he can’t speak English. To recover fully, I think he needs to come where he’s safe and understands what’s happening around him.”

She has organized a place to live for Boatwright, and will visit him daily in an attempt to help him recover.

Espling continued, “Michael asked me, ‘Why are you doing this for me?’ Because I know Michael would have done the same thing for me. If he had found me in the papers. This is a very nice man with a very big heart.”

On February 28th, Boatwright woke in the motel and was unable to recognize his own face. Doctors have since diagnosed him with dissociative amnesia. This is usually triggered by a traumatic event.

Boatwright believed that his name was Johan Elk, but this was later proved to be wrong by his passport and Social Security card. He is still trying to piece the pieces together of his life, but only a few people have come forward to assist him in this matter.