The boy vanished from the apartment he lived in with his mother on Oct. 4 before his body was found in the sea on Oct. 14

NEED TO KNOW

• The body of Rami, a 12-year-old boy with autism, was found in the sea off Spain’s coast 10 days after he disappeared from his home during a storm
• Rami’s mother believes he may have been frightened by thunder before leaving the house 
• A fisherman alerted authorities to the body on Oct. 14, following an extensive search involving hundreds of volunteers

The body of a 12-year-old boy with autism was found 10 days after he disappeared from his home in Spain during a storm.

The body was discovered after a fisherman alerted authorities to a body in the sea in the between the towns of Castelldefels and Sitges on Wednesday, Oct. 14, according to Catalonia’s regional police force, known as Mossos d’Esquadra, per Spanish news agency EFE.

The boy — identified publicly just as Rami — disappeared from his home in Granollers, a city in northeastern Spain, on the morning of Oct. 4 during a thunderstorm, according to the outlet.

Mossos d’Esquadra did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Rami’s death was also confirmed by the Granollers City Council in a press release issued on Thursday, Oct. 15.

The council stated that an “intense search” had been carried out by multiple local and regional agencies, along with “hundreds of volunteers,” following the boy’s disappearance.

“The Granollers City Council deeply regrets this loss and extends its condolences to Rami’s family, his friends and all those around him. In these moments of pain, the council wants to express all its support and warmth to the family, with the utmost respect, solidarity and support,” it said in the release.

The council added that it had declared a day of mourning in honor of Rami.

Rami lived in an apartment in Granollers with his mother, Faouzia Benouizi, according to local outlet Antena 3. 

His mother believes he may have been frightened by thunder during the storm, per the outlet.

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In an interview with Antena 3 before her son’s body was found, Rami’s mother said she feared he may have gotten into a car with a stranger after leaving their home.

Rami’s uncle, Youssef Benouizi, added while speaking to the outlet, “We think he got into a car because he’s a vulnerable child, and anyone who tells him to get in, he’ll get in.”

The boy’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

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