Five people, including a young boy, were rescued after spending 36 hours stranded on top of a crashed plane surrounded by alligators, snakes, and biting insects in the Amazon region of Bolivia.
We may never find ourselves stranded in a jungle, but we all go through times where the world feels wild and unsafe. There are days we face stress, fear, and moments that test our limits.
Stories like this remind us that God protects, even when we are surrounded by things we don’t understand. He holds us up when we have no strength left. He sees us, even in the most hidden places.
Emergency Landing in the Amazon Jungle
The small aircraft had taken off from Baures and was heading to Trinidad in Bolivia’s Beni region. It was a short domestic flight, common in this remote area where roads are often washed out by heavy rain.
On board were pilot Pablo Andrés Velarde, the child, his 37-year-old aunt Patricia Coria Guary, and two other women, ages 32 and 54. They were traveling for a medical appointment for the boy at the pediatric hospital in Trinidad.
About halfway through the flight, the engine failed. Velarde reported the emergency on his radio. He looked down at thick forest with no roads or fields, just miles of green canopy and swamp.
“There was no ranch or road along the route,” he said. “It was just swamp.” He aimed for a clearing near a lagoon. But instead of sliding onto solid ground, the plane hit hard, flipped over, and crashed into the water. The impact left everyone injured, and the aircraft partly submerged.
The group managed to climb on top of the wreckage, which was the only place dry and safe from what was around them.
Surrounded by Alligators and Snakes
In the water were caimans, a type of alligator native to the region, and large snakes, possibly anacondas. Velarde said the reptiles stayed three to four meters away but did not leave. They circled the area day and night.
“The alligators and snakes watched us all night, but they didn’t come close,” he said.
He guessed that the strong smell of jet fuel leaking from the plane kept the animals from moving closer, but he added that there’s no proof this actually worked as a repellent.
No Food, No Water, No Sleep
They had nothing to drink. The lagoon was filled with fuel and unsafe. The only food they had was ground cassava flour, which one of the women had packed as a snack.
It was not enough for a group of five people waiting for help. “We couldn’t drink anything,” Velarde said. Biting insects were everywhere. “The mosquitoes wouldn’t let us sleep,” he added.
A Flashlight and a Cry for Help
They tried to signal rescue teams by waving clothing and yelling when they heard any sign of people. But for most of the time, there was no response. They stood on the plane as long as they could.
“We couldn’t stand anymore, because we had to stand so we could keep an eye on the animals,” Velarde said.
Each hour that passed made their bodies weaker, but they kept going.
Rescue and Recovery at Last
On the third day, they heard the sound of fishing boats. Velarde flashed his phone’s light and shouted. A group of fishermen saw the light and came over. They helped the survivors into their canoe and called the authorities.
Later that day, an army helicopter came and flew them to the hospital in Trinidad.
Dr. Luis Soruco, who treated them, said the group had injuries from the crash, dehydration, infected cuts, chemical burns, and insect bites. “We couldn’t believe it, that they weren’t attacked and left for dead,” he said.
The pilot and two of the women were released from the hospital after getting medicine. Coria Guary remained under care for a deep head wound. The young boy had no major injuries and was recovering.
Velarde, still tired but thankful, said, “We couldn’t have handled it one more night.” The group had done everything they could to survive, and their efforts were not wasted.
God’s Protection in the Middle of Danger
This story reminds us that God sees us even when we are deep in trouble. Whether we are in a jungle, a hospital room, or going through personal struggles, He watches over us. His care reaches into the hardest places.
Let us be grateful for His protection and pray for those recovering from this frightening experience.
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