A 43-year-old Indonesian man who was reported missing nearly three years ago has been found alive in a remote mountain forest after surviving alone for an extended period.
The man, identified as Ayi Solehudin, was discovered in a forested area of Mount Salak in Sukabumi Regency after local residents conducting inspections of a nearby river following heavy rainfall stumbled upon him.
According to reports, the man was found sitting on a moss-covered rock in a confused and weakened state.
Rescuers said he appeared severely malnourished, struggled to speak and was unable to walk properly without assistance.
They added that he seemed startled by the presence of other people when he was approached.
The discovery prompted an emergency rescue operation, with residents carrying him out of the forest on a stretcher before taking him to a local administrative office for identification.
Authorities reportedly used fingerprint and retinal scans to establish his identity, which later confirmed him as a resident of Cianjur Regency who had been missing for almost three years.
Family members subsequently verified his identity and revealed that he had been battling mental health challenges before his disappearance.
According to relatives, Solehudin had a history of wandering into forested areas alone and left home one day without returning.
His family said extensive searches were conducted after he went missing, but all efforts to locate him proved unsuccessful.
Although there had been occasional reports of sightings in neighbouring regencies, relatives said he always disappeared before they could reach him.
Officials have not determined exactly how long Solehudin remained on Mount Salak, but his frail condition suggested he had spent a prolonged period in isolation with limited access to food and water.
Family members disclosed that his mental health deteriorated following the death of his parents, a development they believe contributed to his repeated disappearances into the wilderness.
The remarkable discovery has drawn widespread attention in Indonesia, with many expressing amazement at his survival under such harsh conditions.