Matthew managed to survive using his strong willpower, says mum

The mother of the Diocesan Boys' School student Matthew Tsang Hin-chit - who was found alive in Ma On Shan Country Park after being missing for seven days, wrote in a Facebook update that her son managed to survive using his strong willpower and drinking water from the stream.

Tsang went missing since last Wednesday (Oct 4) after leaving the Mong Kok school during lunch break. Following his disappearance, the authorities and volunteers initiated large-scale rescue efforts to search for Tsang.

Read more: 'Miracle' as teen found alive after missing for a week

Tsang’s mother Amy Chan provided a detailed update in the early hours today, saying that the rescuers found Tsang at 2.15 pm on October 11 in thick undergrowth about 100 meters from a path near Lo Shue Tin in Ma On Shan Country Park.

She expressed her gratitude to the Police, Fire Department, Mountain Search and Rescue Team, Civil Aid Service, and Government Flying Service for relentlessly searching for her son in the mountains.

Chan also thanked Tsang’s DBS brothers and parents, the Countryside Volunteer Search Team, relatives and friends, and various volunteer search teams for their help.

“Thanks to all HK citizens who have supplied valuable sighting information. Thank you media for your attention and reporting. I am deeply moved by the warmth and love of HK people through this incident,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, Chan also gave an account of her son’s situation and how he had survived throughout the days.

“[Matthew] managed to survive using his strong willpower and drinking water from the stream. After typhoon 9 and black rain, he was thoroughly soaked and realized that he might fall sick if he continued to wear his clothes, so decided to take them off and hide in the bushes to shelter from the rain and wind,” the mother wrote.

She also noted that it’s “God’s miracle” that Tsang survived even without consuming any food.

“Matthew’s physical and mental conditions are stable, and is now staying in hospital for treatment. Please don’t worry. Thank you everyone!” Chan added.