Main content

My son found his birth mother using Google Earth

Sue Brierley knew her adopted son Saroo had become lost as a child in India, and sent his birth mother thoughts every night, sharing the boy's progress as he grew up in Tasmania.

Sue Brierley adopted her son, Saroo, after he had been found wandering the streets of Kolkata as a five year old. He had got on a train that took him across India and away from his birth family, and couldn’t find his way back. Sue always believed that Saroo’s birth mother was alive, and would send comforting thoughts to her every night, sharing the boy's progress as he grew up in Tasmania. 25 years later Saroo used satellite maps online to retrace his steps to his first family’s home in India, and Sue finally met the birth mother she had thought about for so long. Saroo’s story was made into the Oscar-nominated film Lion, in which Sue’s character is played by Nicole Kidman.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Picture: Sue Brierley with Saroo, shortly after his adoption
Credit: Photo courtesy of Sue Brierley

Available now

44 minutes

Last on

Wed 3 Mar 2021 03:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 2 Mar 2021 12:06GMT
  • Tue 2 Mar 2021 18:06GMT
  • Tue 2 Mar 2021 23:06GMT
  • Wed 3 Mar 2021 03:06GMT

Contact Outlook

Contact Outlook

Info on how we might use your contribution on air

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected