Pham Van Toan, 49, was found by authorities in a severely weakened state after being lost for five days in a forest in Tu Mo Rong Commune, Kon Tum Province. His motorcycle, found separately, contained a substantial amount of cash and gold. On the morning of 3/7, Tu Mo Rong Commune Police handed over Mr. Toan and all his assets to his family, also assisting in transporting him and his motorcycle back to Lam Dong.

The search began yesterday morning after the commune police received a report from residents. They described an unfamiliar man, severely weakened, walking in the treacherous forest of Ty Tu village, an area known for its deep ravines. The commune police, along with local security forces, organized an immediate search operation. After nearly 6 hours of traversing the dense forest, authorities located Mr. Toan, who was hungry, thirsty, and weak. Authorities promptly took him to the police station for care.

Mr. Toan (second from right) receives his assets from the police. *Ba Thanh*

Speaking with the police, Mr. Toan stated he had been riding his motorcycle for about five days. He covered nearly 550 km, traveling from Lam Dong to Quang Ngai before getting lost. Based on this information, the police expanded their search, locating his motorcycle approximately 4,5 km from where he was found. Inside the motorcycle's trunk were his citizen identification card, over 656 million VND in cash, a gold chain weighing three chi (a traditional Vietnamese unit of gold weight, approximately 3.75 grams), and a mobile phone. His bank account held over 515 million VND. Mr. Toan explained the money came from selling his farmland.

Through verification with his family and local authorities, the police determined Mr. Toan lives alone and shows signs of mental health instability. During his absence, relatives thought he was simply traveling near his home, only learning he was lost in Quang Ngai when the police informed them. The rescue operation occurred as the area experienced heavy rain and strong winds due to a storm, posing a risk of landslides.

The People's Committee of Tu Mo Rong Commune subsequently issued an extraordinary commendation to the Tu Mo Rong Commune Police collective, three officers directly involved in the search, and the head of security for Ty Tu village.

Pham Linh