The disappeared Gardanne had chosen to live as a hermit for 160 days

Disappeared since May 13 from Gardanne (Bouches-du-Rhône), Germain Vitalis was found last Saturday by the gendarmes.

In the grip of family and financial worries, this fifty-something had deliberately fled, thinking to end his life.

He finally lived for 162 days, alone, in the middle of nature.

"I have lived the best days of my life since those of my youth", tells in the

of this Wednesday the 56-year-old man, who evokes a "rebirth".

"As if I was in a cafeteria"

He explains that he fled because he "was in debt", that his "13-year-old son was placed in a home", and that he "had to move from (s) a house in Gardanne".

On Friday, May 13, he therefore left by bike and thought of committing suicide by jumping into the void.

But he reflects, thinks of his children, and comes back to his project.

He then settled in a precarious, “invisible” place of life, “between pines and holm oaks”.

The man "lives under the stars", eats "picnic leftovers from the trash cans".

“Sometimes I had too much, like I was in a cafeteria,” he says, even though he lost 15 kg in five months. 

“I wanted to stay in Sainte-Victoire [massif near Aix-en-Provence], like a hermit, without being noticed,” he says.

“My beard had grown, you could hardly recognize me,” he adds.

The solitary life lasts five months, punctuated by six hours of daily walking and the perpetual flight of the police who are looking for him.

Last week, he ended up meeting an acquaintance, who warned the gendarmes.

Today, he says he is "tired" but considers that "it was a pleasure for (him)".

And still thank the gendarmes who rescued him.

• Disappearance