Missing boy at summer camp confirmed dead in SW China's Yunnan

(ECNS) -- An 8-year-old autistic boy who had been reported missing during a summer camp event in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan, was found dead on Tuesday afternoon by a local rescue team, authorities said Wednesday.

At 5 p.m. on Tuesday, rescue personnel located the boy's body in a mountain stream. On-site inspection and preliminary investigation ruled out death by external injury, with no signs of criminal involvement.

At around 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, the boy was missing from the summer camp group while climbing Cangshan Mountain. Local authorities then launched a large-scale search operation, deploying rescue dogs, drones, and thermal imaging equipment.

The summer camp, named "Tomorrow's Light", claims to treat autistic children using natural healing methods.

Public reports indicated that the camp had organized activities previously to accommodate children with special needs, such as autism, developmental delays, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Manager of the summer camp and teachers involved in this incident are currently under investigation by multiple authorities. The institution was approved by market regulatory authorities but had not obtained approval from the education department.

(By Zhang Dongfang)