Japanese police criticized a father who left his exhausted seven-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji while he continued the ascent with his older son.
According to a report by Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi, cited by CNN, the boy was found sitting alone in a mountain hut at an altitude of approximately 2,500 meters above sea level on Thursday. The hut worker noticed the child and notified the police.
The report stated that the boy was hiking with his father and older brother, but after feeling tired and not wanting to continue, he asked to wait. The father allegedly told him to stay on a bench at the sixth station of the Fujinomiya trail while he and the older son moved toward the summit.
After about five hours, the pair returned, by which time the police were already waiting for the child. The boy was unharmed and was returned to his father.
Consequences and Precautions
Reports indicate that the police warned the man that he could face criminal charges for leaving a child unattended. The father himself expressed regret, according to TV Asahi.
Mount Fuji reaches an altitude of 3,776 meters and attracts thousands of tourists during the climbing season. The mountain's height, steep terrain, and rapidly changing weather can pose dangers to visitors. Previously, climbers have had to be rescued due to the development of altitude sickness, leading authorities to implement measures to manage crowds and enhance safety on this popular mountain. CNN has previously covered cases where climbers required assistance on Mount Fuji.
