Benjamin Kyle, found beaten and left for dead outside of a Burger King in Georgia, has discovered his identity after an 11 year search. Picture: Georgia Bureau of Investigations

On August 31, 2004, a man was found badly beaten, naked, and covered in fire ant bites outside a Burger King in Richmond Hill, Georgia in the US.

He did not have a wallet or any form of identification on him and he could not remember his name, where he was from, or anything about himself. Doctors said he suffered from retrograde amnesia.

His only memories were of recent events and vague memories of events from more than 20 years earlier, but nothing in between.

He took the name ‘Benjaman Kyle’ due to it having the same initials as Burger King and he believed ‘Benjaman’ might be his first name. He was certain that he had lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, and in Boulder, Colorado. He had memories of a state fair in Indianapolis, a cemetery, and the downtown area as it had looked years before. He also remembered the University of Colorado library and a specific seat he used there, and a restaurant he frequently visited.

Benjaman Kyle has finally been given his ID papers after an 11 year search to discover who he is. Picture: The Doe NetworkSource:Supplied

Doctors said that Benjaman Kyle suffered from retrograde amnesia. Picture: Wikimedia CommonsSource:Supplied

In addition to the distant memories, he also retained skills that may have provided clues to his past. Kyle believed that he may have worked in the restaurant industry because he knew how specific machines worked and how to fix a stove. He also thought he might have two or three brothers.

As his story became known and yet no answers came forth, it became global news. Benjaman Kyle went to social media sharing sites, such as Reddit and Websleuths. He was accused of making up his story and that it was all a hoax. He even went on Dr Phil and news.com, National Geographic, CNN, ABC News in the US all featured his amazing story.

A 2012 YouTube documentary ’Finding Benjaman’ detailed his rare condition, his quest for his identity and the struggle to live in the US without a government ID.

The film begins: “Hello, my name is Benjaman Kyle. You don’t know who I am and, quite frankly, neither do I.

“It’s pretty pathetic if no one’s actually looking for someone that disappeared. Isn’t there anyone important enough in your past life that would want to look for you?”

Now 11 years later, Kyle through his Facebook page has revealed that he now knows who he really is and his claim has been backed by The Doe Network.

“MY IDENTITY HAS BEEN FOUND!” he proclaims.

“It is now the start of the eleventh year since this began and I never thought this day would come. A little over two months ago I was informed by CeCe Moore (genealogist) that that (sic) they had established my Identity (sic) using DNA.

“Many people have shared their DNA profiles so that they may be compared with mine.

“Through a process of elimination they determined my ancestral bloodline and who my relatives were.

“A DNA test taken by a close relative has confirmed that we are related. I have been in contact with them and plan on visiting them next week.

“I will soon have a Social Security card and a new Florida ID card. I am reserving my new name, for now, until I have met my new found relatives.

“I wish to thank all of my friends who have supported me over the years with a big thank you to the people who have helped me with this mess.

“If I have left anyone out, please forgive me. Everyone knows my memory is faulty.”

Benjaman has revealed that he was born on August 29, 1948, and is aged 67.

“You see it in the movies — someone gets conked on the head and they forget everything. Oh, yeah, right,” Jacqueline Dowd, a lawyer with IDignity, an Orlando, Florida, organisation that helps homeless and other low-income people get government-issued identification, told the Orlando Sentinel.

“But in this case, it’s true. We’ve seen the medical records that prove he does have that condition.”

IDignity tracked down his birth certificate, original Social Security records and other documents.

“To assemble the documentation necessary for a name he hasn’t used in over 10 years took some doing,” Dowd said.

Benjaman described the ID card as “a big turning point” in his struggle for identity.

“It was like I was a ghost. I now exist — and can prove it,” he said, adding that he intends to have his Social Security number tattooed on his backside — as a precaution something happens to him in the future.

Over the 11 years Benjaman’s claims have been disputed and he has had public fallings out with the site Websleuth, who claimed he was lying. He also had a row with a genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick, who was working on his case. He issued her a cease and desist letter.

Benjaman says he will reveal his identity when he is able to meet his family in person.