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. This programme was first broadcast in March 2021
Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Rebecca Vincent
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Sue Brierley with Saroo, shortly after his adoption. Credit: Photo courtesy of Sue Brierley)
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