Man freed after 18 years of confinement in Guangdong

Jake Malone wanders on a street in Shenzhen, searching for his online girl friend, April 21, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

Man searches for sweetheart on streets

A few days ago, 60-year-old Jake Malone left Vancouver for the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen to meet his online girlfriend named Rebecca (@RILI), who is said to be a 45-year-old worker at a local clothing factory.

According to a Shenzhen News report, the two had been in touch over the past 11 months, communicating via emails translated by software.

Malone eventually decided that he would travel to China to live with Rebecca. However, when he landed Rebecca didn't show up. Unable to access his email in China, Malone lost touch with his online lover.

Hoping to attract her attention, he then decided to hang a board from his neck, and became a human billboard outside a plaza, waiting every day in the hope that Rebecca would show up.

Next up: Find out what happened when a woman started her car without knowing that a cat was trapped in the engine.