It was the story that grabbed attention and headlines across the globe last week, and there was widespread relief when little Yamato Tanooka was found alive and unharmed in bear-infested woods, in Japan.
Now, the seven-year-old’s response to being left to fend for himself by his parents has been exposed – and it is heart-wrenching.
Yamato, who was missing for almost a week on the island of Hokkaido, reportedly forgave his father’s ill-judged actions on the spot.
Speaking to local media, father Takayuki recalled: “I said to him, ‘Dad made you go through such a hard time. I am sorry’. And then my son said, ‘You are a good dad. I forgive you.’”
Local media outlets have now been able to piece Yamato’s ordeal together in more detail.
The child revealed that, initially, he tried to run after the family car but got disorientated and went the wrong way. He then walked along a path, in the darkness, for five hours before discovering a hut on the grounds of a military base.
Yamato was later found by a member of military personnel, hungry and dehydrated, but unharmed save for a few scratches. He is currently recovering from his ordeal in hospital and is due to be discharged on Tuesday.
After his son was finally located, Takayuki told the press that he had apologised for his ‘excessive’ punishment.
