Boy, 4, survived alone in woods rife with bears and wolves for four and a half days

A mass search with more than 500 volunteers found the missing boy today just as police wrongly began to suspect his father of murder. 

Exhausted Dima Peskov can only moan and nod to questions from his parents - he is not yet talking - after his ordeal in woods near Reftinskoye reservoir in the Urals. 

He is dehydrated and has pneumonia, but his condition is 'grave but stable' after he was evacuated to a hospital in Asbest by helicopter, say doctors after an initial check up.

The four year old boy became lost on 10 June during a camping trip.

The boy's mother Alfia Peskova, in tears and visibly shocked, said: 'Thank you so much to the volunteers'. Pictures: Urals rescuers

Bears and wolves are known to inhabit the nearby woods. 

'A young boy who found our son was from Sokol rescuers squad,' said a relieved father Andrey Peskov. 'He saw a little mound behind a birch tree and came closer. 

'He walked around a tree and realised that the mound was actually a child lying down. 

'At first, the rescuer thought that the boy was dead, but then he saw a slight move. 

'Our son is now feeling better, he understand me - even though he doesn't speak. 

'He talks back by either nodding his head or blinking his eyes. 

'He is very strong, our son, but he spent more than four days in the woods.  

'He is so exhausted.

'I cannot express our gratitude to everyone who helped looking for him. 

'A huge, huge thank you. You didn't leave us alone in trouble.'

The four year old boy became lost on 10 June during a camping trip. Pictures: Urals rescuers

The boy's mother Alfia Peskova, in tears and visibly shocked, said: 'Thank you so much to the volunteers. 

'Our son is much better now. 

'True he can't speak, he moans back, but he understand what is said to him. 

'He is on a drip now to ensure he gets fluids and food. 

'His clothes were just cut off him, he was wrapped in a blanket.'

State investigators appear to be checking how Dima came to alone long enough to vanish. Picture: Urals rescuers

Dima was lost after he went with his father ten metres away from the tent to gather wood for a fire. His father thought he had returned to his mother. 

But when he got back to the tent the boy was missing. 

The parents began a search and then called police. 

The father admitted: 'Police suspected that I killed our son and hid his body.'

He refused to comment further. 

State investigators appear to be checking how Dima came to alone long enough to vanish. 

The press service of Sverdlovsk region Investigative Committee said: 'More than 50 people were called as witnesses to be interrogated as part of the investigation.

'They included Dima's relatives,  neighbours, staff at his kindergarten and also fishermen on shore of the reservoir that night. 

'As we interrogate witnesses, we clarify the reasons and conditions that led to situation when the boy's life was put under threat.'