An 11-year-old boy with learning difficulties has been found alive after spending 13 days lost in a dense mountain forest.
The youngster survived on wild figs and rainwater for nearly a fortnight.
The child, from a remote village household, was described as having learning disabilities.
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He wandered into the hills near Anhua Village in Guangdong Province, China, on the afternoon of 18 May and was reported missing the following day.
Hundreds of police officers, villagers, forest rangers and officials mounted a relentless search involving around 100 people per day, as reported by Need To Know.
Using drones and specialist police dogs, rescuers refused to give up despite the heavy rain and challenging terrain.
On the morning of 30 May, police dog Chasing Wind, an experienced Belgian Sheepdog handled by police officer Guo Zhiheng, led rescuers to the boy in a hidden mountain hollow.
The discovery came after a herbal medicine collector found the boy’s trousers at a fork on the twelfth day, providing a crucial new search direction.
Guo said: “The dog became excited, barked, and within about 10 metres, the boy was spotted lying in undergrowth.
“He moved, then smiled at me. He was alive.”
The child, who weighed just over three stone (20kg), clung tightly to the officer’s neck and wouldn’t let go.
Rescuers noted the boy was conscious with only minor bruises and scratches, no serious injuries or hypothermia, and in relatively good condition despite the ordeal.
Evidence along the route, including signs of wild figs being picked and eaten, and possible shelter spots under rock overhangs, boosted hopes he was still alive.
Rain provided drinking water in an otherwise difficult environment.
Police chief Mo Wenjie said the area features thick vegetation, complex paths and heavy rainfall, making the search extremely arduous.
Searches ran from 8am to 9pm daily, with drones continuing at night.
The boy’s family home is the only dwelling in the immediate area, with no nearby CCTV, adding to the initial challenges.
The boy has since been reunited with his family.
