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Gripping Netflix documentary reveals how plane crash left 4 children clinging to survival in Amazon jungle for 40 days

Home> Film & TV> Netflix

Updated 11:57 18 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 11:52 18 Nov 2024 GMT

Gripping Netflix documentary reveals how plane crash left 4 children clinging to survival in Amazon jungle for 40 days

The youngest was just 11 months old

Ellie Kemp

Ellie Kemp

An incredible new Netflix documentary examines how four young children beat the odds to survive the depths of the world's largest rainforest.

The documentary follows the tragic story of four siblings who were left stranded in the Amazon jungle following a fatal plane crash on May 1 last year.

It's currently third on the Netflix US movie chart, just behind Margot Robbie and Will Smith's spy-romance Focus and new Christmas flick Hot Frosty.

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The trailer, which you can watch below, shows search-and-rescue personnel crying as they recall finding the children, while the jungle's vast, treacherous conditions are also shown.

Titled The Lost Children, it joined the streaming giant on November 14.

When the children's mom, Magdalena Mucutui Valencia, the pilot, and an indigenous leader were all killed after the light aircraft's engine failed, the four children were left to fend for themselves.

Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 13, Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 9, Tien Ranoque Mucutuy, 4, and 11-month-old Cristin Ranoque Mucutuy found themselves stranded in the Guaviare Rainforest - dubbed 'the gateway' of the Amazon.

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Alone, in of the most remote area of Colombia, an injured Lesly was miraculously able to keep her little siblings safe and alive.

It took 40 days for the children to be found, despite a massive military-led search involving more than a hundred Colombian special forces troops and 70 indigenous scouts.

The children were found alive after 40 days in the jungle (JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)
The children were found alive after 40 days in the jungle (JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lesly relied on jungle survival skills she'd been taught as a child to survive.

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This included building a 'camp' with hair ties, dodging poisonous snakes, and identifying safe jungle fruits to eat.

Colombian special forces officials said the children also lived off farina, a coarse flour often used by indigenous tribes in the Amazon region.

Oscar-winning director Orlando von Einsiedel told Netflix Tudum of the challenges of shooting such a sensitive documentary.

He said: "It’s always crucial to treat stories involving painful human tragedy with the deep respect and sensitivity they deserve. I was drawn to this particular narrative because it was clear that within it were many glimpses of incredible human resilience and strength - not only the children’s battle to survive in the forest alone but also the way in which Indigenous rescuers and the military were able to overcome their mutual mistrust and fear to unite in a dangerous and epic mission to rescue the children."

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The Lost Children is available to stream now on Netflix.

Featured Image Credit: Netflix

Topics: Film and TV, Netflix, World News, Documentaries

Ellie Kemp
Ellie Kemp

Ellie joined UNILAD in 2024, specialising in SEO and trending content. She moved from Reach PLC where she worked as a senior journalist at the UK’s largest regional news title, the Manchester Evening News. She also covered TV and entertainment for national brands including the Mirror, Star and Express. In her spare time, Ellie enjoys watching true crime documentaries and curating the perfect Spotify playlist.

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@EllieKempOnline

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