Five Survivors Rescued from Alligator Swamp After Plane Crash in Bolivia
- Bolivia plane crash rescue: A small plane crashed in Bolivia’s Amazon, stranding five people for nearly two days before rescue. They were eventually rescued from an alligator-infested swamp.
- The crash happened on Wednesday. A pilot, three women, and a child were aboard. They were flying from Baures to Trinidad when the plane went down.
Crash and Survival
- The pilot reported technical issues an hour after takeoff. Soon after, all communication was lost. The plane crashed into a swamp near an alligator nest.
- The survivors, including the pilot, managed to stay alive. They survived on chocolate and cassava flour. The pilot, 27-year-old Pablo Andrés Velarde, used quick thinking to make an emergency landing.
Facing Danger: Alligators and Serpents
- The survivors were trapped near alligator nests.According to Velarde, the alligators were deterred by the powerful odor of petroleum spills.Big snakes were seen nearby, though, and the animals circled the grounded plane.
- At night, the group would be terrified by the terrible sounds made by the alligators. They remained calm and relied on their meager food supply in spite of the risk.
Search and Rescue Efforts
- The rescue operation faced delays. Adverse weather made it difficult to spot the survivors from the air. However, on Friday morning, fishermen finally found the group.
- Bolivian authorities launched an airlift operation to transport the survivors to safety. They were taken to the city of Trinidad for medical attention.
The Benefits of Quick Thinking
- Mirtha Fuentes, one of the survivors, expressed gratitude. She asserted, “We all cried with joy because we were alive,” Her words encapsulated the group’s relief and surprise after their journey.
- President Luis Arce praised the quick response of the rescue teams. “The five rescued individuals are alive because of the efforts of our specialized personnel,” he said in a statement.
Source: CNN
Leave a comment