Canadian man Edgar Latulip solves his own missing person's case after 30 years by remembering who he is

He had been living just 80 miles away from home

Edgar Latulip pictured before going missing in September 1986 (North American Missing Persons Network)

A 51-year-old Canadian man has solved his own missing persons case after remembering who he was, thirty years after he first disappeared.

His case was solved after he told a social worker his name was Edgar Latulip and he was from Kitchener, Canada.

He was discovered to be living just 80 miles from his family.

Mr Latulip, who has a mental age of 12, voluntarily submitted to a DNA test along with a member of his family which positively confirmed his identity.

He had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Kitchener, Ontario, in September 1986, after attempting to take his own life.

It is thought Mr Latulip, then aged 21, boarded a bus to Niagara Falls with the intention to try again, police said.

But he suffered a head injury en route which caused amnesia, Guelph Mercury reports.

The North America Missing Person Network described his disappearance: "He left his residence without his medication.

"It is possible that he took a bus to Niagara Falls.

"Latulip suffers from mental health problems and is developmentally delayed (mental capacity of a 12-year-old)."

Mr Latulip's mother, Silvia Wilson, had thought for years her son had been abused because of his developmental disorder.

A photo mock up of what Mr Latulip would look like after 30 years (North American Missing Persons Network)

On being told the news, she felt "overwhelmed" and excited to see her son.

The Niagara Police department and local community partners are working to reunite them.

Niagara Regional Police officer Philip Gavin said: "Pieces of his memory started coming back.

"Then the social worker found something on the internet that led them to believe this was something more."

A member of the original team investigating Mr Latulip's disappearance, Detective Constable Duane Gingerich, said: "I had hopes that he was out there somewhere. You expect the worst when a person is missing for that period of time.

"I did speak with one of the family members yesterday and today, and they're obviously very happy about it, and they’re making plans to get together with Edgar and speak with him further."