Steven Hydes

{{Short description|Abandoned child (born 1986)}}

{{update|date=May 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}

Steven Hydes (born 1986), sometimes known as Steve Hydes, was found as an abandoned baby at the south terminal of Gatwick airport in the women's bathroom, on 10 April 1986 by a duty-free sales assistant, Beryl Wright.{{cite web|url=http://childalerts.org.uk/was-this-your-baby-the-story-of-gary-gatwick-found-abandoned-at-gatwick-airport-on-the-10th-april-1998/|title=Was this YOUR baby? The story of Gary Gatwick, found abandoned at Gatwick airport on the 10th April 1986|date=7 September 2012|publisher=Child Alerts UK|accessdate=10 February 2013}} According to the doctors who examined him he was 10 day old at the time.{{Cite news |last=Moorhead |first=Joanna |date=2011-04-08 |title=I was the Gatwick baby |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/09/gatwick-baby-abandoned-1986 |access-date=2024-04-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Hydes was initially named Gary Gatwick after the airport's mascot; a plush toy bear sold in the airport's gift shop. It had been given to him by airport staff soon after his discovery. His case was widely publicised in the UK and elsewhere at the time. He was first placed in foster care and after being adopted was given the name Steven Hydes.{{Cite web |title=Man finds parents 33 years after he was abandoned in Gatwick Airport toilet |url=https://news.sky.com/story/man-finds-parents-33-years-after-he-was-abandoned-in-gatwick-airport-toilet-11719006 |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

Despite extensive searching by Hydes and others for more than a quarter century little or no information had turned up about Hydes' origins. Hydes has been featured on several TV programmes and was the subject of a documentary produced by the BBC.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010fq9r|title=The Gatwick Baby: abandoned at birth|date=18 May 2011|publisher=BBC 3|accessdate=10 February 2013}} In May 2019 Hydes announced on his Facebook page that through help from genetic genealogists he had found his birth family but his biological mother had already died. His biological father and his siblings were unaware of his existence.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegeniusmedia.com.ng/2019/05/13/incredible-man-abandoned-in-gary-gatwick-airport-toilet-as-baby-finds-parent-after-33-years/|title=INCREDIBLE!!! Man Abandoned In 'Gary Gatwick' Airport Toilet As Baby, Finds Parent After 33 Years|date=12 May 2019|publisher=The Genius Media|accessdate=12 May 2019}} Years later, in an October 2021 Facebook update post, he shared photos with his biological family and revealed to his followers that he had spent time building a relationship with them. {{Cite web |last=Hydes |first=Steven |date=April 10, 2021 |title=Gary Gatwick airport baby abandoned |url=https://www.facebook.com/gatwickbaby/posts/pfbid02dgEsvzib16LVd4f7MTRUb8xSGv1jNiVJfvnt1GTF4ubJAK2MmuxWi46ds8Kfezddl |website=Facebook}}

Hydes resides in Sussex with his partner Sammy and children Alanna and Kian.