A father has been reprimanded by police in Japan after leaving his tired seven-year-old son alone on Mount Fuji while he continued hiking with his older son.
Japan’s Mt. Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo/By: Kriangkrai Thitimakorn/Getty Images
The boy was found sitting alone at a mountain hut at about 2,500 metres above sea level on Thursday, according to Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi, which was cited by CNN.
A worker at the hut noticed the child and alerted police. The boy had been hiking with his father and older brother when he became tired and did not want to continue, according to the report.
His father reportedly told him to wait on a bench at the sixth station of the Fujinomiya trail while he and his older brother continued towards the summit.
The pair returned about five hours later, by which time police were waiting with the child. The boy was unharmed and was handed back to his father.
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Police reportedly warned the man that he could potentially face criminal liability over leaving the child alone. He expressed remorse, according to TV Asahi.
Mount Fuji rises to 3,776 metres and attracts thousands of hikers during its climbing season. The mountain’s altitude, steep terrain and rapidly changing weather can pose risks to visitors.
Climbers have previously required rescue after suffering altitude sickness, while authorities have introduced measures aimed at managing crowds and improving safety on the popular mountain. CNN has previously reported on climbers needing assistance on Mount Fuji.
Source: CNN, citing Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi.
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