Lost children found in Colombia’s jungle

Four children lost in the Colombian rainforest after an air crash have been found, after 40 days. The children had been travelling in a light aeroplane with their mother, the pilot and another passenger, when the crash occurred on the 1st May.

Although the pilot and other passenger were killed instantly, the children's mother survived four more days.

The children, who come from the indigenous Huitoto community, set off in search of safety, despite being aged 13,9,5 and 1. They were guided by Lesly, the eldest of the four siblings, who used all the skills taught her by their Huitoto grandmother to ensure that they stayed alive and safe. While the children followed the river closely to provide water, Lesly knew exactly which plants and seeds were safe to eat and which were poisonous.

One of the Huitoto men who discovered the children - Henry Guerrero - found Lesly's wise and sensible choices surprising.

Henry Guerrero: "The one who directed everything in the 40 days was the eldest. She was very intelligent, because when we checked the briefcase, we checked what she was carrying. She took the tent, towel, camping equipment, she took a torch with a couple of batteries, but it was already dead, the two mobile phones, with what they were sometimes distracted at night, a music box and the bottles of soda."

The search was organised by the Huitoto people as well as the Colombian military. Army dog units were also made use of, and the children reported that a dog had joined them for the final four days of their adventure, before disappearing.

Guerrero gave details of the youngsters' state of health, when rescued.

Henry Guerrero: "When we found them, it was really a great happiness. They were a little bit malnourished. But what we admired about the four minors, apart from the baby who does not speak, was that she had not lost consciousness. They remembered everything."

All four children have been flown to Bogota for full medical checks, and they'll be reunited with their father as soon as they've fully recovered.

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