A MAN who was left in a London phone box as a newborn baby was seen close to tears after learning who his biological father was.
Matt Butt headed to Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace in order to track down his birth family 35 years after he was abandoned.
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Matt, from Clapton, was left in a cardboard box in a phone box on January 6, 1987, with a hand-written note from his mother.
“I was born on January 6, please look after me,” the note, which was pinned to his knitted jacket, read, giving no details of his parents.
Having been left outside alone on the coldest night of the year, Matt became one of the most famous foundling cases in the UK.
Dubbed the ‘Ice Baby’, Matt was set on a life-long journey to discover his biological family, and know more about his abandonment.
Matt previously used researchers to discover his biological mother, who sadly refused to have any contact with him.
He went on to place his DNA on an online database, in the hopes that ITV show Long Lost Family could locate his father.
During the emotional programme on Tuesday night, Matt was told how his biological father had been discovered – but he sadly had died.
Host Davina McCall explained to a tearful-looking Matt that his dad passed away in 2013, having never known about his only child.
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However, Matt was given a letter from a friend of his father, who wrote that had he known he had a son, he would’ve seen it as a “gift”.
Teary-eyed, he read it aloud: “Although he cannot be with you today, knowing him as I did, I would like you to know that he would have been standing before you with open arms.
“He was a sensitive and emotional man, and was never afraid to show his emotions. He knew how to make a person feel loved and you should know he would have shared that love with you today, and onwards.
“He would have seen you as a gift and I hope you can take comfort from knowing this.”
After reading the note, Matt said: “That’s nice, and you know sensitive and emotional man, and that’s me isn’t it. I wish I could’ve met him.”
Davina, 54, revealed how the foundling’s father was 24 when he was born – and a touring musician in a casual relationship with his mum.
After confirming his mum did not want to make contact, Matt added: “She’s OK, that’s good. I don’t think I expected to feel this sort of happy and relieved.”
It comes after Long Lost Family viewers were left in tears as a woman discovered she has four siblings after being abandoned at birth.
Niki Weadon was left on the step of a tower block as a baby in 1987 and had no idea about her birth family until she appeared on the show.
In shock scenes she discovered her parents both passed away at a young age but had four other children, who they kept.
Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace continues on ITV on Tuesday evenings at 9pm
