9-Yr-Old Is Abandoned And Lives Alone For 2 Years, Feeding Himself And Going To School

Many have observed the incredible resourcefulness of young children, a trait that was starkly demonstrated by a 9-year-old boy in southwestern France.

In Nersac, this young boy was left to fend for himself after his mother abandoned him in their apartment. Despite this, he refused to succumb to his circumstances.

For two years, he managed alone, enduring periods without electricity or heat. He maintained his daily life, even attending school regularly.

From age nine to eleven, he lived in isolation, unnoticed by his school or community, where he was still regarded as a diligent student.

Occasionally, neighbors unknowingly supported him by providing food. He supplemented his diet with canned goods, cake, and tomatoes taken from a neighbor’s balcony. To stay warm, he slept under multiple comforters and washed with cold water.

His mother lived just 5 km away and occasionally visited to bring food, though her visits were infrequent.

Details about the boy’s father are sparse, indicating his absence. After a significant time, neighbors realized the boy’s plight and alerted the police. The mayor commented on the difficulty of detecting such a case given the boy’s outward normalcy and academic diligence.

It was later revealed that the boy had suffered verbal abuse from his mother, who was often heard swearing at him.

Facing charges of child abandonment and neglect, the mother’s absence was confirmed through phone records. She denied the allegations in court, but testimony from neighbors supported the charges.

She received an 18-month prison sentence and six months of electronic monitoring. Now a teenager, the boy has minimal contact with his mother, having seen her only once since moving to a foster home.