Four Children Survive 40 Days in Amazon After Plane Crash

When a small plane carrying four children crashed in the Amazon jungle on May 1, 2023, the odds of survival appeared grim. The Cessna, which had taken off from Araracuara, Colombia, was en route to San Jose del Guaviare. Tragically, the crash claimed the lives of the two pilots and the children’s mother, Magdalena. However, in a remarkable turn of events, the children survived alone in the wilderness for an astonishing 40 days before being rescued.

Rescuers took two weeks to locate the wreckage of the plane, which was buried deep in the jungle, approximately 12 hours by boat from the nearest town. Upon reaching the site, they found the devastating aftermath: the deceased adults, but no sign of the children. The survivors—Lesly Mucutuy, aged 13, and her siblings Soleiny (9), Tien (4), and Cristin (11 months)—had embarked on a harrowing journey of survival that would eventually captivate the world.

Lesly, despite suffering a severely injured leg, took on the responsibility of caring for her siblings. She spent the first 19 days crawling through the jungle, carrying her baby sister in her arms. “We stayed by the plane for a few days, but no one came to rescue us,” she recounted. “I packed two bags with supplies. I was crying from the pain. I was dragging my leg, crawling, searching for a way out of the jungle.”

As the ordeal began, the family had been traveling from Araracuara to join their father in Bogota, fleeing threats from local rebels. Just half an hour into the flight, the plane encountered severe issues and crashed into the dense jungle, teeming with wildlife. Lesly later described the chaos, recalling her fear as the aircraft plummeted, the pilot’s desperate calls for help echoing in her ears.

Once the crash occurred, Lesly faced the immediate challenge of freeing her siblings. After tending to her own injuries, she worked to rescue Cristin, who had been trapped beneath their mother’s body. With limited supplies, including a first aid kit, she managed to keep her siblings alive, utilizing her knowledge from the indigenous Huitoto tribe about which berries were safe to eat.

During their time in the jungle, the children faced numerous threats. They battled hunger and predators, relying on their ingenuity to survive. Lesly described how they caught berries that fell from trees, while Soleiny recounted moments of fear when confronted by wild animals. “We stood still like statues when we saw an ocelot,” she said.

After three days of waiting for rescue, Lesly made the decision to leave the crash site in search of safety. She built makeshift shelters and created a plan to keep her siblings together. Despite her injuries, she managed to find a stick to assist her in walking.

Meanwhile, rescue teams were tirelessly searching for the children, deploying various strategies, including playing recordings of their grandmother’s voice through speakers suspended in trees and distributing 10,000 leaflets urging the children to stay in one place. The search faced challenges due to heavy rainfall, making it difficult to track the children’s footprints.

On day 26 of their ordeal, the search teams received assistance from local indigenous communities. An alliance formed between soldiers and the Huitoto tribe, who engaged in spiritual rituals to invoke the jungle spirits for guidance. Lieutenant Juan Felipe Montoya shared his experiences, stating, “I am not into Brothers Grimm fairytales but, hey, anything to find the kids.”

Finally, on June 10, 2023, the children were located, dehydrated and weak, but alive. Lesly described the moment they were found: “I heard some voices and footsteps close by, but I see nothing… nothing… nothing. Then I feel faint from all the emotion after being found. I’m finally getting out of the jungle.”

Today, the children are living with their mother’s family after spending nearly two years in care. Reports indicate that they are undergoing therapy to help them cope with their traumatic experiences. Lesly’s aunt, Damaris Mucutuy, emphasized their miraculous survival, telling Lesly, “People say you are a miracle. You are free now; you won’t be anybody’s slave. You will have a real life.”

The story of Lesly and her siblings offers a poignant glimpse into resilience and the will to survive against overwhelming odds, highlighting the profound connection to family and the strength found in unity. Their journey is now the subject of a National Geographic documentary titled Lost In The Jungle, available for viewing on Disney+.