A 58-year-old man was reduced to tears while discussing how he was snatched away from his mother’s arms as a baby.
On tonight’s episode of the ITV reality show Long Lost Family – returning for a brand new series – viewers were introduced to Peter Macdonald, a painter and decorator from Lancashire.
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Peter was literally ripped away from his mothers arms by his own father as she was boarding a departing train.
Once the train drove away, he never saw his mother again.
The incident meant Peter also lost contact with his older brother Trevor, who at the time was only a toddler so they had no means of phone contact.
In the coming years Peter’s father explained to him what happened that day and why he snatched him away from his mum.
Read more Long Lost Family
“My mother would take us to Preston Railway Station,” said Peter.
“‘My mother was on the train with me and Trevor, and my father had turned up, and there was a bit of an argument.
“As the train was leaving the station, my father grabbed me off my mother, ‘cause I was in her arms, and the door was shut, and that was it.
“The train pulled away. I’ve never seen my brother or my mother again,.”
In the show Peter and Trevor reunited on their late mother’s birthday after Long Lost Family found him in London.
Trevor finally got to update Peter on moments he had missed in their family’s life – including the passing of their mother.
He said: “‘When she [their mother] got very ill, she started to talk a lot more, open up a lot more. She did say to me: “Find him [Peter], look for him.”
Hearing that his mother wanted to find him all along brought an already-emotional Peter to tears.
He said: “She did care” and that reuniting with his brother was the “best present she could have asked for”.
Viewers took to social media to share in the touching moment, praising the show for bringing the brothers together, but also questioning why Peter’s mother never came back to find him.
“I say this every damn time, but I’m gonna say it again – Davina is just so blimmin’ good at this. Her genuine warmth and consideration is wonderful,” said one user.
“What a great start to the series! Brilliant, two bruvs together again!,” remarked another, loving the show.
Though questions still lingered for some fans: “How vile must the dad have been for the mother not to go back for her baby!”.
Long Lost Family is available to watch on ITV 1 and ITVPlayer.
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