'Miracle' as teen found alive after missing for a week

Diocesan Boys' School student Matthew Tsang Hin-chit was found alive in Ma On Shan Country Park yesterday, seven days after leaving the Mong Kok school during lunch break.

Tsang's overjoyed mother, Amy Chan, went on Facebook at 2.30pm to say: "Thanks be to God! We have found Matthew, and he's alive! ... Thanks to everyone,"

Tsang, 17, was naked and barefoot when found at around 2pm, though suffering no more than minor bruises on his hands and legs.

Firefighting personnel who were among searchers provided Tsang with energy drinks and clothing.

He was found near a mountain stream close to a main path in Sha Tin, telling firefighters that he had water to drink there.

A firefighter at the scene also said Tsang had taken off his clothes "because it was cold," the belief being his clothes got wet during a rainstorm and he took them off to try to stay warm.

A Government Flying Service helicopter ferried Tsang to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for treatment. By then he was covered in a blanket and tin foil and remained conscious.

Tsang was sent to an emergency room at 3pm and was later said to be in a stable condition.

Tsang's mother addressed people outside the hospital and said it was a miracle her son was rescued alive and thanked firefighters and volunteers for their efforts.

"I feel the love and warmth of Hong Kong people in this incident," she said.

"Although Hong Kong was hit by typhoon Koinu and the black rainstorm we didn't give up, and it's a miracle my son is still alive."

Assistant divisional Fire Services officer Chow Cheuk-fung said Tsang was found close to a bush near Lo Shue Tin Hang, around 100 meters from a main path. The department had deployed 122 firefighters, 24 emergency personnel and 37 vehicles, including nine ambulances.

Senior station officer Cheung Tin-yu of the mountain search and rescue team said firefighters used drones to take 10,000 photos of the park, and these were analyzed by artificial intelligence to identify temporary shelters and streams or even to spot Tsang.

Rescue dogs were also deployed.

Cheung said firefighters faced huge challenges due to the uncertainty of Tsang's route and the typhoon.

"As Tsang did not carry any mobile devices we could not look for him by searching for cellphone signals or locating his mobile phone," she said.

The rescue of the boy came after the rescuers stepped up their search for Tsang yesterday morning at Ma On Shan Country Park, with a command center at the entrance of Tate's Cairn Tunnel.

Diocesan Boys' School principal Ronnie Cheng Kay-yen informed students and parents about the rescue.

Teachers, social workers and psychologists at the school will provide assistance to students and parents, Cheng said, appealing to parents to pay attention to their children's emotions and needs.

Tsang, who will be sitting this year's Diploma of Secondary Education examination, had left his school in Mong Kok during lunch break on October 4 and taken the East Rail Line to Shek Mun Station, where he was last seen. His Octopus card record showed he left the MTR station at 1.30pm that day.

Tsang's mother also said her son was suffering from mental stress and she had planned to take him to a doctor on the day he went missing.

"My son is under huge pressure and suffers from pain in the stomach and mental distress," she said. "He left the school during lunchtime, taking his wallet but not his phone.

"He loves hiking and going to the library. He also likes music and enjoys visiting CD stores. And while he loves nature he is not an experienced hiker. He has never gone hiking at Shek Mun before."

In a note that Tsang's parents posted online, they told the boy to borrow a phone to call them or seek help at an MTR station.

"Daddy and mommy love you very much," they said. "We miss you. We are proud to have you as our son. Please come home and we will face everything together. Have faith that you will get well. Many people are praying for you."

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com