Japanese boy missing in Hokkaido 'found alive'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36441612

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Japanese rescuers believe they have found the boy who went missing in remote woods last week after being left alone by his parents as a punishment.

Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was found in military barracks in Shikabe town and was in relatively good health, army officials told Japanese media.

Japan's NHK network said he had identified himself to the military personnel who found him.

He was given food and drink and has been taken to hospital, said NHK.

Yamato's parents initially said he got lost while foraging for vegetables.

But they later admitted they had briefly driven off, leaving him alone as a punishment for throwing stones. When they returned to collect him shortly afterwards, he had disappeared, they said.

He was not thought to have any food or water with him was wearing only daytime clothing.

Search teams, including the Self-Defence Force (SDF), have been combing the remote area, which is home to brown bears, for a week.

They had found no trace of him and hopes had been fading.

Officials said he was found by a soldier shortly before 08:00 on Friday morning (23:00 GMT on Thursday).

"A Self-Defence Force official who was on a drill found a boy whose age appeared to be seven," said a police spokesman, quoted by AFP.

"There was no conspicuous external injury, and the boy introduced himself as Yamato Tanooka," he said.

SDF spokesman Manabu Takehara told AFP the boy "looked in good health, but he was sent to hospital by medical helicopter".

The base is only a few kilometres from where Yamato was last seen.

Yamato's father had told Japanese media he was "very sorry" for the child, and "for causing trouble for many people".

Police have have said the parents could face charges for negligence.