A missing 18-year-old beauty queen finalist last seen at a Polish airport has been found safe and well after disappearing two weeks ago.
Ania Czopinski disappeared in Poland on November 11 at the Krakow John Paul II International Airport in Balice.
Polish authorities announced today they had found Ms Czopinski ‘safe and sound’, thanking the public for their help.
‘We would like to inform you that the 18-year-old British citizen has been found,’ the Krakow police department said in a statement today.
Ania Czopinski disappeared in Poland on November 11 at the Krakow John Paul II airport
Polish authorities announced today they had found Ms Czopinski ‘safe and sound’
It was not clear from the initial police report where or how Ms Czopinski was found.
She is believed to have travelled to Dublin before heading to Krakow and vanishing.
Sergeant Aleksandra Bytowska, acting press officer of the District Police Headquarters in Kraków, said she was last seen at the airport.
CCTV footage from the airport showed Ms Czopinski in a pair of grey jeans with ripped knees, a black jacket, and black trainers while pulling a suitcase across the floor.
The teenager, of Polish origin, had reportedly never been to Poland before and does not speak the language, had no phone or identification documents, sparking concern for her welfare.
District Police Headquarters in Krakow said in a statement: ‘An 18-year-old British citizen has gone missing.
‘Missing Ania was last seen on 11th November this year at around 11pm at the Krakow-Balice Airport.
‘People who have any information about the missing person are asked to contact the Police Department in Zabierzow.
‘Thank you for your help.’
She previously went missing in August after failing to return home from a festival in the UK.
Her parents Stephen Czopinski and Justine Zellas appealed for help to find her on social media at the time and she later turned up.
Ms Czopinski had gone missing after she tried to get a lift back to her home in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.
The teenager, previously named as a Miss Teen GB semi-finalist, attended the music event with a group of friends, but her father understands they made their way home without her.
Stephen Czopinski said when she was found after she last vanished in August: ‘I’m glad to report Ania is safe and sound and back home now. We really appreciate your concern and well wishes.’
He had said: ‘She was still in Leeds when I last spoke to her.
Ania went missing in August while trying to get a lift home from Leeds Festival
Ania was trying to get a lift back to her home in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside in August
‘I have been told by a friend, Ania was hanging around asking for a lift at around about 11am.
‘Somebody refused her a lift and she headed back to the campsite. Her friends are all back. She is out there by herself and I’m just worried sick.
‘I sent her a text message but I’m not sure if she is getting them.
‘The last time I saw her I gave her a cuddle. I was going to work and she was still in bed.
‘She’s a teenager, I work very early and go in and kiss her on the forehead and nine times out of ten she tells me to get off.
‘On Thursday, she woke up, gave me a cuddle and said, ‘I love you, Dad’.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
