Many of us wish that we could speak a little bit of the native tongue when we go abroad, and some of us even take lessons or listen to tapes before we head off on our hols.

However, for Florida man Michael Boatwright, he would have to take no such measures if he wants to visit Scandinavia, after he woke up only able to speak Swedish following a large dose of amnesia.

He was found unconscious in a California motel and when he came round did not know who or where he was.

Instead, he referred to himself as Johan Ek and doctors diagnosed the 61-year-old veteran with transient global amnesia. The side effects of this disorder include sudden and unplanned travel, along with the adoption of a new identity.

Speaking to the Desert Sun newspaper through an interpreter, he said that he often gets sad and "furious" that he doesn't recognise or know anybody anymore.

"I was talking with the interpreter about ice fishing, which is common in the north of Sweden, and thought it must something from my childhood. Things will pop up now and again but it seems to be related to Sweden."

His sister, Michelle Brewer, was tracked down by the paper living in Louisiana, and she revealed that she hadn't spoken to her brother for years after he "just disappeared".ADNFCR-2867-ID-801612912-ADNFCR

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