Four Children Survived For 40 Days After a Plane Crash Left Them Alone and Stranded in the Rainforest
In May 2023, a Cessna 206 aircraft crashed in the Caquetá Department of Colombia while traveling from Araracuara to San José del Guaviare. On board were seven people, including four children from the Indigenous Huitoto community. The crash killed the pilot, an Indigenous leader, and the children’s mother. The siblings, ages 13, 9, 4, and with an 11 month-old baby, survived both the impact and the 40 days that followed in the Amazon rainforest. Their eventual rescue caught the attention of the world, both because of their resilience and the extraordinary joint search effort that was organized between the Colombian military and Indigenous trackers.
The Crash in The Jungle
The Cessna 206 went down on May 1, 2023, after reporting engine failure. The crash site was deep within dense Amazon jungle, in an area that was cut off from all roads. The force of the impact destroyed much of the aircraft, but rescuers later found evidence that all passengers actually survived the initial crash. The mother of the children lived for several days after the crash, reportedly telling her children to seek help.
Any rescue operation would take a lot of time to reach the crash site because the plane crashed in a location that was so far from civilization. Plus, the jungle’s thick canopy made aerial spotting extremely difficult, delaying when the crash site was first discovered by more than two weeks.
Identities of the Survivors
The four survivors of the crash were siblings from the Huitoto Indigenous group: 13-year-old Lesly, 9-year-old Soleiny, 4-year-old Tien Noriel, and their 11-month-old baby brother, Cristin. They were traveling on the aircraft with their mother to reunite with their father. The Huitoto are native to the Colombian and Peruvian Amazon, with a deep knowledge of the rainforest’s resources. This knowledge of the rainforest would later be the key to their ability to survive.
Lesly, the eldest of the siblings, was considered mature and capable for her age, and already had some experience caring for her siblings when her mother was away. This group of survivors used their cultural knowledge and their bond as siblings to miraculously survive over the following 40 days.
Surviving in the Amazon
The crash left the children in one of the world’s most challenging environments. The Colombian Amazon is hot, humid, and full of insects, predators, and venomous animals. On top of that, rainfall is frequent and heavy. The siblings had to deal with the risk of dehydration, illness, and injury, as well as being disoriented in the dense jungle. They had only the clothes they were wearing and whatever they could salvage from the wreckage. Surviving even a week in these conditions would be difficult without supplies, but the children’s familiarity with the forest, combined with their plan to stay together, gave them an advantage in the critical first days.
Knowledge of Edible Plants and Water Sources
The children’s Huitoto upbringing taught them to recognize fruits, seeds, and roots that were safe to eat. They ate palm fruit, seeds, and other native plants, avoiding those they knew to be poisonous. They also knew how to find clean-running water and to avoid still pools. They even collected rainwater in leaves and natural containers. This skillset made all the difference, as many untrained adults would struggle to find edible plants in the Amazon, where toxic species are everywhere. Hydration was also super important, given the humid heat, and their ability to find safe water allowed them to keep their strength and keep moving in search of food and shelter.
Finding Shelter in Harsh Conditions
Rain and insects were constant threats while the siblings were in the rainforest. The siblings used palm fronds and natural cover to build simple shelters, protecting themselves from the worst of the elements. Staying dry was super important to avoid getting sick and to save their energy.
Protection from biting insects also helped prevent disease, including malaria and dengue fever, which are common in the region. Nighttime was another challenge, as temperatures could drop enough to cause chills, making shelter even more crucial to their survival. The siblings’ ability to create and use these makeshift shelters was just one of the practical survival skills that likely saved them from serious illness during their time in the jungle.
The Leadership of the Oldest Sibling
At only 13, Lesly assumed responsibility for her younger siblings. She determined when to rest, where to search for food, and how to keep the group together. She carried and cared for the baby, managed food distribution, and provided reassurance to the rest of the group during storms and difficult nights. Reports from rescuers suggested that her leadership was a main reason why the group survived. Managing three younger children in a dangerous environment for over a month required not only physical stamina but also emotional resilience, and it’s remarkable that someone so young was able to show such strength and determination.
The Search Effort: Operation Hope
The Colombian military launched “Operación Esperanza” (Operation Hope) to find the children. Over 150 soldiers, along with Indigenous volunteers that knew the area, combed the jungle. Helicopters broadcast recorded messages from the children’s grandmother urging them to stay put so that they could be found. Searchers also left survival kits with food and water, hoping the siblings would find them.
Tracking was challenging due to heavy rain and the dense jungle, but small clues, including footprints, discarded fruit, and makeshift shelters, kept the search alive. The combined knowledge and skills of the trained soldiers and Indigenous trackers was super important, considering how large and wild the Amazon rainforest is.
How They Were Found
On June 9, 2023, 40 days after the crash, search teams finally located the children. They were discovered about five kilometers from the crash site, weak but alive. Lesly was carrying the baby, with the other two siblings close by. Rescuers reported that the children were dehydrated, underweight, and covered in insect bites, but they were alive and alert. They were immediately given medical care and flown to Bogotá for further treatment. Their discovery was celebrated across the country in Colombia, with President Gustavo Petro calling it an example of “an encounter between Indigenous knowledge and military rescue.”
Aftermath and Recovery
Following their rescue, the children were hospitalized in Bogotá so that they could recover and be kept for observation. Medical staff treated them for dehydration, malnutrition, and minor injuries. Psychologists were also brought in to help them process the trauma of losing their mother and surviving such an ordeal.
Indigenous leaders praised the children’s resilience and highlighted how important their cultural knowledge was to their survival. The story was widely covered by international media, becoming a symbol of hope and the unbreakable human spirit. The Colombian government honored both the rescuers and the Indigenous communities that contributed to the search.
The survival of the four Huitoto siblings in the Colombian Amazon for 40 days stands as one of the most remarkable survival stories in recent history. It combined the knowledge and teachings of Indigenous life with the skills and manpower of a large-scale, coordinated search. From the moment the plane went down to their final rescue, the children relied on their resilience, cooperation, and cultural knowledge to survive. While the loss of their mother remains a deep tragedy, their survival will be remembered as a rare and extraordinary triumph over the odds in one of Earth's most dangerous environments.