13-10-2023 (HONG KONG) In a miraculous turn of events, 17-year-old Matthew Tsang, a student at Diocesan Boys’ School, has been found alive after having gone missing for a week in a forest. Tsang was reported missing last Wednesday (Oct 4) after leaving school without his phone, taking only his wallet, according to Sing Tao Daily.
Concerned for her son’s safety, Tsang’s mother, Amy Chan, took to Facebook, pleading for help in locating her missing child. The post quickly gained public attention, prompting a search and rescue operation to find Tsang.
The police reported that Tsang was last seen in Siu Lek Yuen, a residential district in Hong Kong, heading towards Ma On Shan Country Park at around 2:30 pm on the day he went missing, as reported by The Standard.
A joint effort was launched by the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Police, Civil Aid Service, alumni of Diocesan Boys’ School, and several civilian rescue teams to search the park, as stated by Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP). Despite the challenging weather conditions brought by Typhoon Koinu, the search and rescue team persevered in their mission to find Tsang.
Chow Cheuk Fung, Station Commander of Sha Tin Fire Station, revealed that various methods were employed in the search, including search and rescue dogs. Over 10,000 pictures of the park were captured by drones and analyzed using artificial intelligence, as reported by Hong Kong media.
Finally, on Wednesday afternoon (Oct 11), Tsang was discovered naked in a bush near a stream, according to HKFP. The rescue team provided him with warm clothes and energy drinks before deciding to transport him to the hospital by helicopter.
Amy Chan expressed her joy and relief on Facebook, describing her son’s survival as a miracle. Tsang had become thoroughly soaked by Typhoon Koinu, prompting him to remove his wet clothes for fear of falling ill. He sought shelter in the bushes and managed to survive by drinking water from the stream, as shared by Chan.
The reasons behind Tsang’s disappearance remain unclear. However, his mother revealed that he had been under academic pressure and stress due to the upcoming Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination, as reported by Hong Kong media.
Chan expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the search and rescue team for their tireless efforts in finding her son. She reassured the public that Tsang’s physical and mental condition is stable, and he is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
