The police took action against a 48-year-old man after he left his son alone on Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain, for several hours to continue his hike.
The 7-year-old boy was found sitting on a bench at an altitude of over 2000 meters, in conditions where fog and rain were already present. He had only one carbonated drink and a snack with him.
According to reports cited by Japan Today, the father told the child to wait in that spot after the child complained of fatigue, while he continued the ascent with his older son.
Mountain lodge staff discovered the younger child alone around 7:30 AM (11:30 PM in continental Portugal) and notified the police.
The father was found between the seventh and eighth stations of the route, approximately three hours' walk from his son. The police issued a warning to the father when he returned to meet the boy, who had spent eight hours waiting, being 'tired and irritable.' One officer noted: 'Even if it means giving up the climb, leaving a child behind is unacceptable.'
The family was on the Fujinomiya route, which starts at the fifth station of the mountain, accessible by public transport. From this point, it takes about five hours to reach the summit, and the descent takes another three hours.
Mount Fuji, which stands at 3776 meters, has been the site of various accidents during climbs in recent years. The most recent case involved a 27-year-old university student who climbed outside the official season and required rescue twice over four days after returning to look for his lost mobile phone.
Approximately 200,000 people climb the mountain annually, but daily restrictions are in place on some routes to prevent overcrowding.
Located southwest of Tokyo, Fuji is an active volcano and one of the three traditional 'Sacred Mountains' alongside Mt. Tate and Mt. Haku. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 2013.
