In 2021, 26-year-old Harley McCourt disappeared from his bedroom. In March, he was found alive.

On October 2, 2021, Harley McCourt walked out of the front door of his home. For two years, his family wondered why he never returned and fought to find him again. 

Almost 18 months later, he was discovered almost 800 kilometres away.

At the time of his disappearance, Harley was 26 years old and living in Landmark, Arkansas in the United States. In the early morning hours of October 2, he was seen by his father in his bedroom. 

A few hours later, he'd noticed his son had left and was quick to report him missing. 

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According to People, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office said the 26-year-old had been "severely depressed and distant for approximately three months" before he went missing.

Harley had not used his phone or left the residence in the two months leading up to his disappearance, so his sudden departure worried the family. 

Police found his mobile, medication and other personal items he'd left behind. They also noticed one black tennis shoe was missing. 

His family immediately began looking for him in their small neighbourhood by conducting searches with the occasional help of a K9 unit. 

Harley McCourt went missing in 2021. Image: Facebook.

They rented a billboard and handed out flyers, and when this led to no new information, issued a US$10,000 (AU$15115) reward for more leads. 

After more than a year of worrying, on March 11 the family finally received the call they'd hoped for.

Almost 18 months after he was last seen by loved ones, Harley was found wandering around in Galveston, Texas - over 770 kilometres from his hometown. 

Texas police told Harley's family he was "unharmed" and had been found when he was stopped by an officer for walking against traffic.

He was wearing his old backpack, and officials were able to contact his family after discovering their contact information on it.

But because he had not been committing a crime, the officer had to let him go.

Harley's mother Kim McCourt and his sister Brittany Crumpton immediately drove for over seven hours to search the area where he was spotted.

After almost an entire day, they eventually ran into Harley as he was "walking down the beach" with an umbrella in his hand. He was wearing glasses and a protective face mask, as well.

Harley McCourt. Image: Pulaski County Sheriff's Office.

"Yesterday I got to put my arms around my son," Kim wrote in a heartfelt message on the Help bring Harley McCourt home Facebook page. 

"Harley is back with his family and my heart is full again."

She later told Kark.com that she never gave up hope.

"Your mind just wanted to tell you no, he’s not alive. He's not alive, but my heart just said he's alive somewhere and he's out there."

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After finding Harley in Galveston, Kim treated her son to some new clothes and a special birthday dinner, having missed his 26th and 27th birthdays while he was missing, as reported by People.

Harley was reportedly taken to an Arkansas hospital shortly after returning home.

"A lot of his personality traits and stuff are coming out already and he's started to get back to being happy," his mother said. 

Most recently, Kim shared a photo of Harley joining the family on a lake holiday.

Feature Image: Image: Pulaski County Sheriff's Office/ Facebook: Help bring Harley McCourt home.