Five-year-old boy is found alive after spending 24 hours alone in the desert in Argentina when he got separated from his family during a walk
- Benjamin Sanchez disappeared during a family outing in San Juan on Sunday
- He was found by a team of volunteers some 13 miles from where he had vanished
- Footage shows the moment he is lifted up after he was found alive in the desert
A five-year-old boy has been found alive in the Argentine desert after he went missing for 24 hours.
Benjamin Sanchez disappeared during a family outing in San Juan on Sunday, prompting 1,000 police, firefighters and volunteers to mount a huge search.
His family feared for his health as he was wearing only a T-shirt and trousers and had no food with him.
But he was found by volunteers on Monday some 13 miles from where he had vanished, Clarin reported.
Rescue: Five-year-old Benjamin Sanchez is held in the arms of one of his saviours after a group of volunteers found him in the Argentine desert 24 hours after he disappeared
Footage of the moment he was found shows five-year-old Benjamin being lifted up in celebration.
The video, shared by Canal 13, also shows some of the motorcycles used by the rescue team to track the youngster down.
Benjamin was taken to the Guillermo Rawson Hospital but is now said to be out of any danger.
His sister Guadalupe Zurita told Argentine media: ‘He’s already eating, he’s laughing and he’s talking to us. We can not believe it.
‘The relief is huge. We spent the worst 24 hours of our lives , I thought the worst. I thought I would never see it again.’
Reunited: Benjamin Sanchez hugs his mother in hospital after he spent 24 hours in the desert, wearing only a T-shirt and trousers
Recovery: Benjamin (pictured) was taken to the Guillermo Rawson Hospital but is now said to be out of any danger
San Juan governor Sergio Unac welcomed him home, saying he ‘shared a special morning’ with the young boy.
‘I am excited and deeply appreciate what was accomplished yesterday, this speaks of the tremendous heart that we have in San Juan,’ the politician said.
Rescuers were able to follow the tracks left by the boy’s shoes, according to one of the volunteers on motorcycles.
Officials said the boy had walked around in a circle and may initially have been playing a game of hide-and-seek.
Later he appeared to have tried to return to his family but had not been able to find them, they said.