'I’m Madeleine McCann': Student goes viral after making 'joke'

A UK university student has made headlines after claiming to friends that she was missing girl, Madeleine McCann.

Harriet Brookes posted the “joke” on a private Facebook group chat, writing that a spot on her right eye and leg “proved” she was Madeleine, who disappeared without a trace while on a family holiday to Portugal in 2007.

Images of the chat leaked on Twitter show the “evidence” Ms Brookes shared with friends, and her message: “I’m Madeleine McCann and I don’t know what to do with myself”.

Thousands of people have re-tweeted the post, with many slamming Ms Brookes for “mocking” the missing toddler.

The student has since tweeted that stories published by The Daily Mail UK and The Sun were printed “without her permission”.

“It was supposed to be a private conversation between five people not for the entire world to give their opinion on,” she said.

She also dismissed claims that she had been receiving money from the now-viral story.

It’s impossible that Ms Brookes could be the real Madeleine – who would be 14 years old this year.

The search continues for the missing girl, with more than A$19 million spent on the investigation so far.

Funding for the probe from the United Kingdom’s Home Office will continue until March 2018, The Telegraph reported in September.

Rewards offered for information about the missing girl total $4.55 million.