"We, like, half made eye contact a few times," he said "Right as the train stopped she got up and, like, everyone else rushed in between us. We made eye contact, really solid eye contact . . . and, right when the words were going to leave my mouth, she was off the train." That is his story as told to a friend and posted on the internet.

He could have surrendered his dignity and chased her through the crowd, although that oh-so-casual line about what she had been writing may have needed some reworking. Or he could have let it go. Or, as it happened, he could create a webpage dedicated to finding her in a city of 8 million people. He called it nygirlofmy dreams.com. He included a drawing of her, with her blue tights and blue gym shorts and red cheeks, and a drawing of himself labelled: tall; skinny; not insane. And he included his mobile phone number.

In less than 48 hours, Brooklyn boy had found his dreamgirl. He had some help. A story about his search ran in the New York Post. It became a typing point on other websites, and finally a co-worker of Camille Hayton's made the link. It was the flower in her hair and the rosy cheeks that caused her co-worker to identify Ms Hayton, formerly of Kew, as the muse in this internet love match.

She is identified as an intern at BlackBookmag.com, which now reports a timeline of the encounter, and the pursuit of Ms Hayton by what the site variously calls her "stalker" and a "subway skirt chaser". When not attending to her duties at the magazine, she is a 22-year-old aspiring actress who is thought to have been engaged as an extra in the filming of the feature Sex and the City. The couple, however, have yet to meet. Still, this may be a refreshing diversion for Ms Hayton. Friends have claimed that her New York home burnt to the ground just weeks ago.

Meanwhile, she is believed to have agreed to tell her story to a television show. He, for his part, is withdrawing from scrutiny. A recorded message on his phone declares he has found his dream girl and that "the website totally worked". But he does not think he will update the website further, and he said he is unlikely to do any interviews.

He does not want to become some gimmicky story. This, he said, is an authentic thing. Asked by his unseen friend in the website interview if he was ready to meet the dream girl he replied: "Yeah . . . (pause of several seconds) . . . hopefully." He told the New York Post they were meeting for coffee this weekend. No pressure. Just 8 million people waiting on the outcome.