A six-year-old boy who was missing for five days has been found deep in a forest in Vietnam. The boy, Dang Tien Lam, who lives in the northwestern Yen Bai province, was playing in a stream with his nine siblings on 17 August when he wandered into the hills and got lost, local reports said. He was found on Wednesday by local farmers who heard a child's cry while they were clearing a cinnamon field close to the forest. Lam, who was found sitting in cassava bushes about 6km (3.7mi) from where he went missing, had become so weak he was unable to stand.
"I'm so tired, I can't stand up, please carry me up," Lam said, according to 52-year-old farmer Ly Van Nang. Lam survived on leaves, wild fruits and streamwater, reports said. Pictures online show locals tending to him and offering him cake after he was carried out of the forest. He was found wearing a red T-shirt and shorts that were completely soiled.
"[The child told me] that when he got lost, he could not find his way home," said Mr Nang, according to local news site Dan Tri. "And the more he walked, the more he could not find a way out." The police said it was a "miracle" that Lam was found alive. "Congratulations on returning safely to your family," officers wrote on a Facebook post.
The news sparked relief on social media, with many congratulating Lam's family and thanking the search team for their efforts. Local authorities had mobilised more than 150 people - including police officers, soldiers and local volunteers - in search of the young boy.
The Boy's Disappearance and the Search
Fortunately, a farmer in the area heard Lam’s cries for help on Wednesday, Aug. 21, and the boy was found sitting in the bushes close to four miles where he initially disappeared, according to The Independent.
“I picked him up, and he said he was tired and hungry, asking if I had anything to eat,” Ly Van Nang, 52, said, per the online newspaper.
Over 200 people, local police, soldiers, militia and volunteers banded together in the search for Lam, according to The Independent.
While the search was ongoing, local investigators also utilized surveillance footage to ensure that Lam had not been kidnapped and also drained ponds and streams to eliminate the possibility that he may have drowned, per the online newspaper.
Upon Lam’s rescue, the outlet reported that police said it was a “miracle” that he was found alive.
Survival in the Wilderness
As for how he was able to survive, Agence France Presse reported that the boy drank water from a stream and ate leave and fruit he found in the wild.
Of course, after finding out her son was alive, the boy's mother was overjoyed. "I was so happy that my child had returned alive," she said, per the news agency.
Police went on to tell the news agency that although he was found in a weakened state, "he is okay now."
A Story of Resilience and Hope
Lam's survival story is a testament to the resilience of a child and the power of hope. It is also a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant and never giving up hope when a child goes missing. Lam's story has touched the hearts of people around the world, inspiring hope and reminding us of the power of human kindness. The search and rescue operation was a remarkable effort, involving hundreds of people working tirelessly to bring Lam home. The fact that he was found alive after five days in a dense forest is nothing short of miraculous. This story is a powerful reminder of the importance of never giving up hope, and the strength of the human spirit.
