Colombia would digest on Saturday the dramatic rescue of four minors indigenous people who survived 40 days in the Amazon jungle after a plane crash that killed three adults, while the children’s relatives celebrated the discovery, thanking nature and the meticulous operation with a happy ending.
The minors -among them a baby who turned one year old in the jungle- have been missing since May 1, when the Cessna 206 plane in which they were traveling crashed in the Colombian Amazon, in the south-central part of the country. Three adults died, including the children’s mother and the pilot. The aircraft was en route between Araracuara and San José del Guaviare when its engine failed.
“My grandchildren lived in the jungle for 40 days eating seeds, drinking water, which Mother Nature gave them life until now,” said the children’s grandfather, Narciso Mucutuy, visibly moved on Saturday.
The grandfather – who spoke with reporters outside the military hospital where the children receive medical and psychological care – recounted how his grandchildren Lesly Bonbaire (13 years old), Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy (9 years old), survived for more than a month in the inhospitable jungle. Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy (4 years old) and Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy (1 year old).
Fidencio Valencia, also the children’s grandfather, remains outside the hospital awaiting further progress from his grandchildren.
“Right now, I’m here, I just came from looking at the grandchildren, first they have life, it’s very finished but I know it’s in good hands, here’s the hospital, I know this is going to turn out well, we’re going to keep coming all the time, I’m going to be here,” Valencia told reporters on Saturday.
dramatic rescue
Under the name of “Operation Hope”, the Colombian Public Force spared no resources or men to find the children. At least 11 aircraft were used in the operation, in which more than 150 soldiers from the Military Special Forces Command, 73 indigenous people and a Belgian shepherd dog participated.
The commander of the Military Forces, General Helder Giraldo Bonilla, reported that “in order to locate them, the soldiers and indigenous people traveled approximately 2,656 kilometers, embracing adversity.”
“They made the impossible possible with that intact faith that always characterized them. That was how it is today, through that interaction of efforts of the Siuna and Araracuara indigenous communities with our special forces commandos in the sector of the village Palmarrosa, municipality of Solano, Caquetá, the location and rescue of these four minors was achieved,” Bonilla said.
Countries like Chile, Israel and the United States offered satellite help with high-capacity images. Drones were also used to search.
It was in the midst of darkness that the Colombian military roped the children into a helicopter and then transferred them on a plane with medical equipment to the military hospital in Bogotá.
“I can simply say that they are alive,” said the commander of “Operation Hope” upon arriving with them in Bogotá at dawn this Saturday.
After the initial assessment, the multidisciplinary team that assists the minors indicated that they are in stable clinical conditions, are completing an assessment protocol with paraclinical tests and diagnostic images, and are beginning their treatment for nutritional recovery and therapy of psychological and family support.
“Lesly smiled at us, gave us hugs, told us about the puppy, Tien really wants to play, he’s bored in bed, he wants to go out and walk,” explained Astrid Cáceres, Director of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, at the hospital.
In Photos | children lost in the jungle of Colombia are transferred to hospital where they recover
The search in the jungle was carried out by more than 350 soldiers and indigenous people from communities in the area.
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