24-8-2024 (HANOI) A six-year-old boy has been found alive after spending five gruelling days lost in a dense jungle in Vietnam’s northwestern Yen Bai province. The young lad, Dang Tien Lam, was discovered by local farmers on Wednesday, more than three miles from where he had initially wandered off while playing with his siblings.
The ordeal began last Saturday when Lam, enjoying a day out with his nine brothers and sisters near a stream, strayed into the nearby hills and became disoriented. As days passed, a massive search operation was launched, with over 150 people, including police officers, soldiers, and volunteers, combing the area in hopes of finding the missing child.
Surviving on nothing but leaves, wild fruits, and water from streams, the young boy demonstrated an extraordinary will to live. His discovery came as a relief to both his family and the local community, who had feared the worst as the search stretched on.
Ly Van Nang, the 52-year-old farmer who found Lam, recounted the moment of discovery to local media. “I’m so tired, I can’t stand up, please carry me up,” the exhausted child reportedly told Nang upon being found. The farmer added that Lam had explained how he became increasingly lost as he tried to find his way home, with each step taking him further from familiar territory.
When rescued, Lam was found in a state of extreme fatigue, unable to stand and covered in dirt. He was spotted nestled among cassava bushes, a testament to his resourcefulness in finding shelter during his time in the wilderness.
The local authorities have hailed the boy’s discovery as nothing short of a “miracle”. The successful outcome of this search operation has brought immense relief to the community and highlighted the importance of swift and coordinated rescue efforts in such cases.
