A Christchurch mum has used social media to track down the man she believes is her biological father after spending most of her life believing he was dead.
Sharnee Butler, 31, never met her dad but, in her teenage years, started looking for answers because "I just had this feeling he was still around" - despite being told as a child he wasn't alive.
The healthcare worker was raised by her mum and stepdad. She'd been told her biological dad's name was Noel, that he lived in the UK and loved sports.
After years of wondering whether "Noel" could still be alive, Butler started trawling social media for answers.
"I just had this feeling he was still around, just a weird feeling," Butler told Newshub. "And even if he was dead, I was looking for answers and extended family."
Using Facebook, Butler came across a man with the first name Noel who was living in Wales. His page was filled with sports content so, on a whim, she sent him a message: "Hi, this is a random question and apologize for intruding [sic]. Did you travel to New Zealand in 1990?"
Noel responded the next day: "Hiya. How you going? [sic] Yes lived there twice Sharnee. Who are you?"
Butler proceeded to ask Noel if he had lived in Christchurch.
"Certainly was amongst other places," he responded.
Butler went on to explain to Noel the reason for her messaging.
"This is going to sound super odd. And very personal… When you were living here, Christchurch/New Zealand… Did you sleep with any women?
"My mother, who I deeply and dearly love has given me your name so I've done years and years and years of research and you fit all of these descriptions."
The messages appeared to come as a complete shock to Noel: "Do you really think I could be your dad?
"I think I remember your mum, is her name Dale? Did she do youth jazz/marching?"
Noel confirmed he lived in Christchurch until 1991 - the year Butler was born - before leaving for the North Island and returning to the UK later that year.
"This is all so so crazy, so so crazy. I'm shaking, I'm crying," Butler replied. "I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
"Yes, Dale is my mum! Holy moly!"
The find was a huge relief for an ecstatic Butler, who now can't wait to meet the man she hopes is her biological father.
"It was a massive shock," she told Newshub. "I was at the doctor's with my daughter and when he replied I cried to the floor.
"I'm so so excited, excited isn't even the word to describe it."
Butler, whose message exchange with her believed-to-be dad went viral after she shared it on the social media platform TikTok, soon plans to jump on a plane to the UK to meet Noel.
She said they'd agreed to get a DNA test to find out once and for all whether Noel was her father.
Butler has started a Givealittle page to raise funds to help get her to the UK.
"I need to meet this man, do DNA with this man and start making memories with this man," she wrote. "I have young children that could be his grandchildren, he has other children that could be my siblings.
"Please, help me meet my potential dad.
"I feel weird doing this but there would be absolutely no way I could potentially afford to meet this man and do DNA by myself! So I appreciate you all!!"
