How to recover locked iPhone with forgotten Apple ID password and passcode?

Apple will want to contact you/him using a method to which only you or he has access.

Contact Apple if they have other ways to verify identity.

Refer to this page for Apple Support features ➔ Contact - Official Apple Support

Select from the presented options until you find a solution for your issue, or see if there is a chat or phone call contact method offered lower on the page under “Get more help” (you sometimes have to narrow down the options multiple times before this is shown). If you do not see your issue, keep experimenting with any series of selections until you reach one that offers a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.

This support article has various country telephone numbers for contacting Apple for support and service ➔ Contact Apple Support - Apple Support Scroll down to “Connect with live support”. If your country is not in the list, go to the “Other countries” entry at the end of the list. Not every country has telephone support, and phone numbers may only work when calling from the same country.

For chat, you can try using the Apple Support App —> https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

For chat help with a USA Apple Account —>

https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=kbase&PGF=PGF63005&category_id=SC0998&symptom_id=20198

Gabhan_ wrote:

I’ve had to find the proof of purchase in order to move onward with this.

To me it seems like you are now using the Activation Lock removal service, not account recovery. While the lock service will enable you to use the equipment again (e.g., with a new account) it won't recover the account that was blocking the device.

How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple Account password - Apple Support

vs.

How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support