Culture

Navy Vet Found in Hotel With Amnesia, Speaking Only Swedish

Has come to terms with who he is but still doesn't remember it

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When police found the unconscious man in a Southern California Motel 6, the IDs on him said he was Michael Thomas Boatwright from Florida.

But when the man awoke at Desert Regional Medical Center a few days later, he said he'd never heard of Boatwright.

He didn't recall serving in the U.S. Navy. Or of being born in Florida.

Michael Boatwright

When doctors told him he had five tennis rackets in his hotel room, he couldn't say why.

When they showed him photos of himself with others, he didn't recognize them, or himself.

And he didn't speak a word of English.

The man said his name was Johan Ek.

And he said it in Swedish.