Horror as dad ditches son, 7, on Mount Fuji because he wanted to reach the top

The dad said he made a "rash decision". 17:58, Sat, Aug 22, 2026 Updated: 17:59, Sat, Aug 22, 2026 The man ditched his son on Mount Fuji during a hike (Image: Getty)A dad has been admonished after ditching his seven-year-old son halfway up Mount Fuji so he could reach the summit. The 48-year-old set off with his two so

The boy was told to wait for eight hours with only snacks and a soft drink and no money, staff at a mountain hut told police.

Police reprimanded the father over the decision and warned that leaving a child behind was unacceptable.

A man left his seven-year-old son behind for hours on Japan’s Mt. Fuji while continuing the climb, resulting in a stern warning from authorities, police and local media reported.

The boy was found alone on a hiking route on Thursday and taken into police custody, a local police officer in Shizuoka Prefecture said Saturday.

Dad ditched son, 7, halfway up Mount Fuji so he could reach the summit Emily Bashforth | Live News reporter Published August 21, 2026 5:35pm Updated August 22, 2026 12:56pm A schoolboy’s father was scolded by police after abandoning him on Mount Fuji (Picture: Richard A. Brooks/AFP via Getty Images) ‘Wait here,’ is wha