Children who survived Amazon plane crash released from hospital

Four children who went missing for 40 days in the Amazon forest after their plane crashed were released from the hospital on Friday, Colombian authorities reported.

On May 1, 13-year-old Lesly Jacombaire Mucutuy and her siblings, nine-year-old Soleiny, four-year-old Tien, and baby Cristin became stranded in the Amazon jungle after their airplane crashed, killing all of the adults traveling with them. 

Authorities found the aircraft and the dead bodies, including that of their mother, but the children were nowhere to be found.

A massive military-led search involving special forces troops and volunteers from indigenous tribes was launched to attempt to find the children. Yet after weeks, they were only able to find footprints, a diaper, a bottle, and half-eaten fruit, suggesting they were still alive.  

After more than six weeks, the children were miraculously found alive, although severely dehydrated and malnourished. The children’s knowledge of fruits and survival skills were what helped keep them alive.

They were airlifted into a helicopter and taken to Colombia's Military Hospital in Bogota to receive medical treatment. 

“The jungle saved them,” President Gustavo Petro said. “They are children of the jungle, and now they are also children of Colombia.”

The children, who belong to the Huitoto indigenous group, were transferred to a shelter home until authorities can determine who will get custody of the children, according to the director of the Colombian Children Welfare Agency ICBF, Astrid Garces. 

“Considering everything they went through, they are actually well,” Garces said.

“Their physical health is perfect, and in the hospital, they started receiving care from a team of psychologists and anthropologists,” she added.