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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鈥檛 find his way back. Sue always believed that Saroo鈥檚 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鈥檚 home in India, and Sue finally met the birth mother she had thought about for so long. Saroo鈥檚 story was made into the Oscar-nominated film Lion, in which Sue鈥檚 character is played by Nicole Kidman.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Rebecca Vincent

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

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40 minutes

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