Olympic hopeful found safe after mystery 11-day disappearance

A 2012 Olympic hopeful who disappeared after struggling with the strain of competing at the highest level has been found safe and well.

Ross Clarke, 21, was found by police in Tottenham Hale after his mother Jeannette Clarke, of Rainham, Essex, launched a national appeal on Friday. The promising athlete, who is one of the top six 1,500m runners in Britain, is now back at home with his family. He had been missing for 11 days.

Colleagues today spoke of their relief and were still trying to work out where he had been since he vanished. Coach Keith Bottjer, of the Basildon Amateur Athletic Club, today said he now hopes Mr Clarke will start training again "once he gets himself sorted out". He added: "We were very, very worried about him, being missing for that length of time. The athletes push themselves very hard and he's very ambitious."

Mrs Clarke had said her son was depressed and had suffered from personal problems before he disappeared. He had also left a message on Facebook: "Don't ever take anybody for granted, you never know when you might lose them."

Friends had thought Mr Clarke had travelled to Southampton but police found no trace of him until yesterday.