Father Faces Child Endangerment Charges After Wilderness Trip with Son

American Father Faces Potential Charges After Wilderness ‘Tech Detox‘ in Brazil

SC, Brazil – An American father could face child endangerment charges after taking his son into the Brazilian rainforest for a prolonged survival experience intended as a “digital detox,” authorities say. The pair were found days after the son’s absence from school triggered a search, and were reportedly in a state of exhaustion and dehydration upon rescue.

The father,identified as Rogers,had been living in Brazil for six years and reportedly told authorities he wanted to emulate the conditions of the survival show Naked and Afraid,challenging himself and his son to survive in the wilderness. The incident highlights the growing, and potentially dangerous, trend of extreme attempts to disconnect from technology, and raises questions about parental responsibility when pursuing such endeavors.

According to a translated statement from police delegate Luana Backes obtained by Brazilian media outlet Midiamax, both father and son were “very tired, and neither had bathed in days.” Firefighters rescued the pair, after which the son immediately consumed a large piece of cake and bread, indicating severe hunger.

Authorities became aware of the situation when the son did not appear for school, prompting an investigation. Rogers could now face child endangerment charges, as reported by The Autonomous, KPTV, and the Post. PEOPLE reached out to the Santa Catarina Civil Police for comment on Saturday, Sept. 6, but did not receive an immediate response.