A seven-year-old boy was found alive on Friday nearly a week after his parents left him in a bear-inhabited forest as punishment for misbehaving, hungry but unharmed after sheltering in a hut on a mil
A seven-year-old boy was found alive on Friday nearly a week after his parents left him in a bear-inhabited forest as punishment for misbehaving, hungry but unharmed after sheltering in a hut on a military base.
Yamato Tanooka was discovered by a soldier about 5.5 kilometres from where he went missing last Saturday, apparently in good health.
Reports said he had taken shelter in the hut and found a tap to drink from but was hungry and was immediately given food when discovered.
After the emotional discovery, the boy’s contrite father appeared before the media and apologised for causing his son’s ordeal.
Yamato’s parents have been severely criticised on social media for forcing him out of their car on a mountain road as punishment for misbehaving.
“A Self-Defence Force official who was on a drill found a boy whose age appeared to be seven,” said Tomohito Tamura, spokesperson for police on the northern island of Hokkaido.
“There was no conspicuous external injury, and the boy introduced himself as Yamato Tanooka,” he told AFP, adding that his parents were reunited with him and confirmed he was their son.
The boy “looked in good health” but was taken to hospital by helicopter for a check-up as a precaution, SDF spokesman Manabu Takehara said.
Yamato’s emotional father later bowed in apology when speaking to reporters outside the hospital where his child was being treated, in an appearance aired by public broadcaster NHK.
“My excessive act forced my son to have a painful time,” said Takayuki Tanooka.
The parents originally told the police their son got lost while they were out hiking to gather wild vegetables along with their daughter, but later admitted they had become angry with him for throwing stones at cars and people and had ordered him to get out of the car.
Japanese media interrupted regular programmes to broadcast news of Yamato’s discovery in the case which has drawn huge attention.
The stunning development was the top trending item on Twitter in Japan.
The case had set off a debate in Japan about parental disciplining. More than 180 rescuers, including troops, have been searching in the area where the boy was believed to have been dropped off. The search for Yamato gripped Japan. At its peak, it involved several hundred shouting rescuers beating through heavy bush, as well as soldiers on motorbikes and police on horseback.
