Home / Disasters and Accidents / Girl, 13, Kept Siblings Alive for 40 Days in Jungle
Girl, 13, Kept Siblings Alive for 40 Days in Jungle
2 Nov
Summary
- Eldest sister, Lesly, cared for three younger siblings for 40 days.
- Children survived on edible fruits, seeds, and cassava flour.
- A military dog named Wilson may have aided in their survival.
Four siblings, lost for 40 days after a plane crash in the Colombian Amazon, were rescued in June 2023. The eldest, 13-year-old Lesly, cared for her three younger brothers, aged nine, five, and one, after their mother died four days post-crash. Their father revealed the mother's dying wish was for them to survive and find their father.
Members of the Huitoto indigenous group, the children's knowledge of edible fruits and seeds proved vital. They constructed a makeshift shelter from a tarpaulin. Rescuers found them significantly weakened, with small wounds and malnutrition. They were airlifted to a military hospital in Bogota for treatment.
The family had been fleeing threats from a rebel group when their aircraft experienced engine failure. The search for the children involved over 100 soldiers and local indigenous communities. A military dog named Wilson, who lost contact with his handlers, is believed to have spent time with the siblings, and a search for him continues.
