Missing Man Found Alive After 12 Days in Brazilian Forest

Quick Summary

After 12 days missing in the woods of Cabreúva, Brazil, 21-year-old Davi Marcos Amancio Toledo was found alive near the Serra do Japi region on Tuesday, December 23. According to his mother, Laís Toledo, the young man was found debilitated, malnourished, and exhausted after facing intense cold and rain. To survive the harsh conditions, Davi reportedly had to dig a hole in the ground for protection.

The disappearance was reported on Monday, December 15, though Davi had been missing since Thursday, December 11. A massive search effort involving family, friends, and local authorities including the Civil Defense and Fire Department spanned multiple municipalities including Jundiaí, Itu, and Salto. Davi was eventually identified after arriving at a local resident's home asking for water. He was taken to the UPA do Jacaré and was discharged on Wednesday, December 24, just in time for Christmas. His father, Vitor Marcos Toledo, described the reunion as the best Christmas present possible.

The Disappearance and Search 🌲

Davi Marcos Amancio Toledo, a 21-year-old resident of Cabreúva, São Paulo, disappeared on Thursday, November 11. He left his home around 1:00 PM and was last seen in the area of Fazenda Guaxinduva, near the Serra do Japi region. The official missing person report was filed three days later, on Monday, November 15.

The search for Davi quickly expanded beyond Cabreúva. Family, friends, and support teams mobilized to cover a wide geographic area. The search efforts extended to the following municipalities:

• Jundiaí
• Itu
• Pirapora do Bom Jesus
• Salto

The family distributed flyers and canvassed various neighborhoods in search of information. Laís Toledo highlighted the significant support received from municipal guards, the Civil Defense, and the Fire Department. She noted that while searches for missing persons typically last up to 72 hours, the authorities did not set a limit and continued the search every day.

Survival in the Wilderness

During the 12 days he was lost in the forest, Davi faced extreme weather conditions. His mother, Laís Toledo, revealed that the cold was the most difficult part of the ordeal. In an interview, she stated, "The worst part was the cold. He had to dig a hole to protect himself."

Despite the anguish of not knowing her son's whereabouts, Laís maintained her faith. She explained, "From the beginning, in all that despair, looking everywhere, my mother's heart always told me he was in the woods." She described the 12 days as "endless," admitting there were moments of great despair. However, she acted solely on faith, believing she would find her son alive.

The Rescue and Reunion

The discovery of Davi occurred at approximately 3:30 PM on Tuesday, December 23. He arrived at the home of a local resident in the region, where he asked for a glass of water. The resident recognized the young man and immediately contacted the local monitoring center.

Fábio Luiz Fiori, the adjunct secretary of security and Civil Defense of Cabreúva, described the condition in which Davi was found. He noted that Davi was very thin due to the length of time he had spent in the woods and had some injuries to his leg. Following the identification, Davi was transported to the UPA do Jacaré for medical evaluation.

The reunion between Davi and his father, Vitor Marcos Toledo, was highly emotional. Vitor described it as one of the most emotional moments of his life. He recounted the physical effort to reach his son: "I was the first to hug him, it was very emotional. I got very emotional. The place where we arrived, if you go there, it's a lot of climbing. I ran up, ran up. When I got there, I thought I wasn't going to make it anymore, as if I had a heart attack." Despite his exhaustion, Vitor hugged his son, noting that Davi was very downcast and tired, but called the moment "very beautiful."

Medical Recovery and Discharge

After being taken to the UPA do Jacaré, Davi received medical attention. By Wednesday, December 24, he was showing good clinical evolution. His father expressed relief that the family was finally at peace, calling the recovery the "best Christmas present we could receive."

Davi was officially discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, allowing him to spend Christmas with his family. The ordeal, which began in mid-November, concluded just in time for the holiday season, bringing a happy ending to a terrifying experience for the Toledo family.