The Amazon rainforest, a vast and unforgiving expanse of green, holds within it stories of both immense beauty and harrowing survival. In the spring of 2023, a seemingly hopeless situation unfolded when a small plane carrying four young children crashed deep within this wilderness. Initial assessments painted a grim picture, with little expectation of finding the children alive amidst the jungle's relentless challenges.
The ill-fated Cessna aircraft, carrying Lesly Mucutuy, a brave 13-year-old, her siblings Soleiny (9), Tien (4), and Cristin, an infant of only 11 months, vanished into the dense canopy. For two agonizing weeks, rescuers embarked on a tireless search, their efforts hampered by the difficult terrain and the sheer scale of the Amazon. The discovery of the wreckage was a somber moment, revealing the tragic loss of the two pilots and the children's mother, Magdalena. Yet, amidst the despair, a glimmer of hope emerged: the children were nowhere to be found.
The disappearance sparked an intensive search and rescue operation, a race against time fueled by the unwavering determination to find the young survivors. It was a scene of devastation, but also a scene that inspired unwavering hope. To add, It took rescuers two weeks to trace the wreckage of the Cessna after it crashed in the Amazon.
The subsequent 40 days unfolded as a remarkable testament to the resilience of the human spirit, particularly the unwavering courage of young Lesly. As the eldest, she shouldered the immense responsibility of protecting her younger siblings, navigating the dangers of the jungle with a strength and resourcefulness far beyond her years.
The children's survival story is interwoven with the knowledge passed down through generations of their indigenous Huitoto heritage. Magdalena, their mother, had instilled in Lesly the vital skill of identifying edible berries, a lifeline that would prove crucial in their struggle for sustenance. With limited resources, Lesly led her siblings on an arduous journey, seeking shelter and nourishment in the heart of the jungle.
Their diet consisted primarily of berries, often gleaned from the forest floor after being dropped by monkeys. These resourceful primates unknowingly contributed to the children's survival, providing a source of sustenance in a landscape teeming with dangers. The children would search and collect the berries, providing them what nourishment they could.
The jungle, however, was far from a benevolent provider. The children faced constant threats from wild animals, including jaguars and snakes. Lesly, with her unwavering determination, armed her siblings with sticks and makeshift torches, warding off potential predators and creating a semblance of security in the darkness.
In the early days of their ordeal, Lesly faced an additional challenge: a leg injury sustained in the crash. Despite the excruciating pain, she bravely crawled through the jungle, carrying her baby sister, Cristin, in her arms. For 19 days, she persevered, her determination fueled by the need to protect her vulnerable sibling.
"We stayed by the plane for a few days, but no one came to rescue us," Lesly recounted, highlighting the initial despair that fueled their decision to venture deeper into the jungle. She packed two bags with essential supplies, her actions driven by an instinct to survive. "I was crying from the pain. I was dragging my leg, crawling, searching for a way out of the jungle."
The family's journey began on May 1, 2023, when they boarded a small plane in Araracuara, a town nestled in the southern reaches of the Amazon. Their destination was San Jose del Guaviare, a stopover on their way to Bogota, where they planned to reunite with Lesly's father, Manuel Ranoque. He had sought refuge there amidst threats from rebel groups, a stark reminder of the complex social and political realities that often intersect with life in the Amazon.
Tragedy struck a mere 30 minutes into the flight. The plane, succumbing to unknown forces, plummeted into the dense jungle. Lesly vividly remembers the chaos and terror of the crash, the plane descending into a world teeming with insects, venomous snakes, and predatory creatures.
In a documentary titled Lost In The Jungle, Lesly recounts her mother's decision to move, a decision that initially filled her with reluctance. "I didn't want to go. I was living with my grandma Fatima, I was going to school and I was happy," she recalls. "It was my first time on a plane. As we took off, it began making a lot of noise. I was so scared . . . then later it started to fall. The pilot called the control tower asking for help. That's all I remember."
When Lesly regained consciousness, she found herself amidst a scene of carnage. Blood streamed from her head, and her leg was pinned beneath a seat. Despite her injuries, her first instinct was to protect her siblings. "There was so much blood on my face and on my clothes," she says. "I saw Tien, Soleiny was crying and I saw my mum."
The children are part of the indigenous Huitoto tribe, and Magdalena had taught Lesly which wild berries were safe to eat. Sister Soleiny recalls: “The monkeys teased us as they leapt from tree to tree. They made the milpesos fruit fall and we caught them.”
“I needed to get to Cristin as she was trapped under my mum’s body and she couldn’t breath," Lesly recalls. She managed to free her siblings, her actions demonstrating remarkable courage and presence of mind in the face of unimaginable trauma. "I needed to stop the blood gushing from my head and I found the first aid kit. Cristin was crying and crying."
With Cristin inconsolable and in desperate need of sustenance, Lesly searched the wreckage for supplies. She found a hammock, a mosquito net, and Cristin's bottle, meager resources that would become essential for their survival. "I arranged some leaves and we all laid down," she says. "Cristin was inconsolable. I couldn't sleep and my leg hurt too much."
Lesly revealed that her mother had survived the initial impact but succumbed to her injuries hours later. With no hope of immediate rescue, Lesly made the courageous decision to embark on a trek through the jungle, leading her siblings towards an uncertain future.
As the days turned into weeks, the search for the children intensified. Soldiers and volunteers scoured the jungle, tirelessly pursuing any sign of the missing siblings. They played messages from their grandmother Fatima on loudspeakers, hoping to guide the children towards safety. They also dropped 10,000 leaflets into the jungle, urging the kids to stay put so they could be found.
The rescuers eventually discovered the lost baby bottle, before picking up a trail of partially eaten fruit and used nappies. Lesly told Lost In The Jungle: “I heard a voice, it was far away. “It sounded like my grandmother, but I thought, ‘Is it true or is it a lie? Are they looking for us?’. “I didn’t think so and wanted to keep walking.
After weeks of relentless searching, the children were finally found, weakened and malnourished but alive. Their survival was nothing short of a miracle, a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of indigenous knowledge.
Today, the children are living with their mother’s wider family after spending almost two years with Colombian welfare services. They were not allowed to live with Manuel after officials heard claims he took Lesly out of school and treated her “like a slave”. He had been arrested after reportedly attacking Magdalena with a machete before vanishing to Bogota.