22 May 2023 , 19:46
1351
0
A man who discovered he had a long-lost brother thanks to a DNA test kit has met him for the first time.
Rhys Williams, 27, was nine when his mum died and found out from his cousins that the man raising him was not his biological father.
When he turned 18, he tried to find out more about his long-lost family.
In January 2022, Rhys did a DNA test and uploaded his results to MyHeritage.com.
Rhys, from Stoke-on-Trent, learned his biological father had died six years prior, but his results also revealed he had a brother Chris Jones.
Teen 'kept as slave, starved and beaten' sues adoptive parents and authorities
Rhys and the 53-year-old connected and spoke over Zoom before Chris drove two-and-a-half hours to see him in person.
Have you had unexpected results from a DNA test? Tell us about it at [email protected]
Rhys Williams took a DNA test to find any biological family (MyHeritage / SWNS)Rhys, a university lecturer, told StokeonTrentLive : "It was a very different experience for me. I had no idea, Chris was going to surprise me but now I look back there were so many clues.
"I went from finding out 'here is your biological dad' to finding out he has passed away and realising that nobody else will look like me.
"For me, it was crazy to then meet Chris who is my blood and is older. I know I will have a very good hairline in 20 or so years. This is someone who is flesh and blood - who looks like me.
Chris Jones is Rhy's long-lost brother (MyHeritage / SWNS)
Chris, left, and Rhys, right, speaking on FaceTime (MyHeritage / SWNS)"It feels like another piece of the puzzle is filled in. The puzzle started as a big question mark but it is getting filled in now. It feels like this is the time it was meant to be and now it has happened."
Chris, a global logistics buyer, from Longcot, Oxfordshire, said: "I had always known I was adopted. I grew up as an only child. I had very nice adoptive parents and a good upbringing.
"But it would have been nice to do all this around 20 years ago. It is nice. It is lovely how it has all happened now. I have never had a younger brother. It is a different experience.
Chris and Rhys met in person for the first time earlier this month (MyHeritage / SWNS)"We get on really well. We went out for dinner after we met and had a lovely meal."
The brothers said they are a lot alike and share interests, physical traits - and even a rare eye injury suffered by their birth father and Chris.
Heidi Klum, 49, admits wanting fifth child and says she's 'waited a long time'
Rhys said: "A lot of things line up, the nose for example. Even things that aren't genetic. We both like the same colour. We both love cats. We both decide to make impulse purchases.
"Things like that. Things you don't even realise but, obviously, there is a lot of genetics."
The brothers hugged each other when they met (MyHeritage / SWNS)Earlier this month, Chris drove two-and-a-half hours from Oxfordshire to surprise his brother Rhys at his house in Stoke-on-Trent.
Rhys thought that his brother had arranged for a videographer to arrive at his home to interview him about his story. But to Rhys' surprise, Chris turned up in his living room.
Chris said: "I drove up there and had to send the cameraman a secret message to tell him I was there. I sent him a text saying 'I am delivering your camera batteries' and then he came to the door and I went in the house to surprise Rhys. It was a lovely moment."
As Chris approached him with open arms, Rhys calmly took a sip of his tea, set it aside, and embraced him with a warm hug.
Rhys said: "I had no idea, now I look back there were so many clues. I saw this car come racing past but didn't think anything of it, but then Chris turned up, it was very surprising."
The brothers plan to build on their relationship and meet up again in June this year.