Woman stolen from her family reunites with them 53 years later

A woman “stolen” as a child and taken to Australia has revealed how she found her real family five decades later – in just 30 minutes.

A woman who was stolen from her family at just four-years-old has reunited with them after 53 years.

In 1969, Susan Gervaise, born Susan Preece, was kidnapped by another family who lured her into their clutches by promising her a two week holiday to Disney World.

Trusting the family and kissing her goodbye, Susan’s parents were excited for their daughter to have the trip of a lifetime in America.

Her kidnappers convinced her parents to hand over her birth certificate, and promised to bring her right back home to her family in Yorkshire, England.

Little did they know, this was the last time they would ever see their little girl.

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Susan was only 4 when she was stolen. Picture: Facebook

Susan had no idea she had been kidnapped. Picture: Facebook

Susan never got to Disneyland, but instead her name was put onto the other family’s passport, and was taken to Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, where she still lives today.

Her Scottish kidnappers raised Susan as their own, and told her that she was “adopted”.

But at 16-years-old, she found out the horrific truth.

Susan’s real family never stopped searching and wondering what had happened to their little girl.

“I was told I was adopted but never really thought much about it. I was happy,” Susan, now 57, told the Wakefield Express.

“We went to Canada, Australia and then New Zealand. I didn’t need a passport to get into New Zealand but when it came to returning to Australia, I did.

“I applied, but I needed a signature from my mother or father. That’s when dad told me they didn’t adopt me, I had been stolen.”

Susan needed to stay in New Zealand for three years until she turned 18 and could apply for an adult passport.

After 53 years of mystery, Susan's family finally had answers. Picture: Facebook

Susan was inspired to find her long lost family after talking to an adopted friend. Picture: Facebook

She then moved back to Australia, where she met her now husband Hamilton, and went on to have three children and four granddaughters.

“As a child I lived with my six siblings in an old vicarage on a traveller’s site. We weren’t travellers,” she explained to The Mirror.

“My mum was on her own and we were all in and out of foster care.

“I was befriended by a couple on the site who were from Scotland, the woman, who I call my mum, had MS and they had two sons. I think they wanted a girl.

“They asked my mum if they could take me to Disney World and she gave them my birth certificate so I could be put on their passport.

“I lived with the travelling community and lived a cherished life where I was spoiled rotten. I have always been happy growing up. I travelled the world.”

Susan was overjoyed to be reunited with four of her six siblings. Picture: Facebook

Susan’s kidnappers are both deceased, with her “mum” dying from MS when she was just 10, and her “dad” passing away when she was 21.

Susan said she never had that much desire to find out more about her real family, but this changed when she spoke to a friend who had also been adopted and asked her if she ever wanted to find her relatives.

This question sparked an idea that would change Susan’s life forever.

“The enormity of what happened to me didn’t hit me. I just carried on with my life,” she said.

“It was only when somebody who was adopted asked me what my family back in the UK would be feeling and that was a light bulb moment for me.”

Susan Gervaise reunited with long lost siblings, Roger, Angela and Catherine. Picture: Facebook

With the help of her husband, the couple posted an appeal to a Facebook “locals” group, dedicated to the suburb of Pontefract where she was taken from.

It took just 30 minutes for Susan’s real family to be found – a moment they had been dreaming about for 53 years.

But tragically, Susan’s real mother died 8 years ago without ever knowing what happened to her daughter.

Susan and Hamilton flew to the UK for a huge family reunion last month, where she met up with four of her six siblings.

“When I spoke to my family they were crying hysterically because I was alive,” Susan said.

“It’s such a happy ending. We’re all still putting the pieces together.

“To this day we don’t know why the police were never involved. I’m thinking it must have been because my mum gave them permission to take me and the fact we were in and out of foster care.

Her siblings had never stopped looking for her. Picture: Facebook

Susan visited her biological mother's grave. Picture: Facebook

“But there have been several appeals through Missing Persons over the years and my mum continually returned to the traveller’s site after moving away to look for me

“It gives a message to anybody who has lost somebody that miracles do happen. There is hope.”

Susan’s niece Emma McFadyen, 41, said her family had never stopped looking for her.

“It was said that Susan’s mother did go out looking for her over the years, but with no luck,” she told the Wakefield Express.

“After she died, there were so many questions that remained unanswered. Things were different back then. There was no paper trail, no police report.

“We never thought it would happen. It’s been amazing – especially for my mum.

“She has Parkinsons and dementia, so it’s amazing that she’s been reunited with her sister before she deteriorates. She’s now complete.”