Father leaves seven-year-old son on Mount Fuji and continues climbing
In Japan, police cautioned a 48-year-old man who, according to local media, left his seven-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji and continued climbing with his older son. The boy was found near the sixth station of the route in foggy and rainy weather at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres.
Child found near mountain shelter
According to BBC News, the child complained to his father about being tired, after which he told his son to wait where he was. The man continued climbing with his older son. Reports said the boy had only a cold drink and a snack.
Workers at a mountain shelter noticed the child sitting alone on a bench and notified police. According to reports, the boy was found at about 07:30 local time on Thursday.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Father located at eighth station
Police found the man at the eighth station of the route, about a three-hour walk from where the child was. After returning, the father was reunited with his son. The boy reportedly waited for about eight hours, was tired and fussy.
One police officer told the man that leaving a child was unacceptable, even if it meant giving up the climb. According to Japan Today, the father apologised for his careless decision.
The family was climbing via the Fujinomiya route, which starts at the fifth station, reachable by public transport. According to mountain guides, the ascent from there to the summit takes about five hours, while the descent takes another roughly three hours. Mount Fuji, at 3,776 metres, is Japan's highest mountain.
