A 48-year-old man left his seven-year-old son alone for hours on Mount Fuji, in Japan, to continue the ascent to the summit with his other son. The minor was located by a worker from a mountain shelter and was put to safety before the police located the father.
The incident took place on Thursday on the Fujinomiya route, one of the main access routes to the summit of Mount Fuji. The family had reached the sixth station, located at more than 2,000 meters above sea level, when the child expressed that he was tired and could not continue.
The minor remained alone on the mountain
According to information gathered by Japanese media and AFP, the father told the child to wait while he continued climbing with his older son. The minor remained alone in the area for several hours, with some food and drink.
A worker from a shelter found the child sitting alone and alerted the police. The weather conditions had worsened, with rain and fog in the area, which increased the difficulty of staying on the mountain without company.
The agents managed to contact the father, who was at the eighth station, and told him to return to pick up his son. The minor was unharmed and was later reunited with his family.
The police reprimands the father
Japanese authorities reprimanded the man for leaving the minor alone on the mountain. The father admitted to the agents that he had made a reckless decision and expressed his regret.
The police have not indicated that the man has been charged with a crime. Their intervention has been limited, for the moment, to reprimanding him and warning about the risks of leaving a child behind during a mountain route.
The authorities have taken the opportunity to remind hikers that groups should progress at the pace of the person with the least experience or ability and that no member should be left behind during an ascent.
Mount Fuji, a demanding route
The Mount Fuji, at 3,776 meters high, is the tallest mountain in Japan. The Fujinomiya route begins at the fifth station, at about 2,400 meters, and is the shortest way to reach the summit, although the ascent still requires several hours of effort.
The case brings attention back to the risks of changing mountain conditions and the need to take extra precautions, especially when children are involved.