During an emergency landing, 29-year-old pilot Andres Velarde crashed deep in a Bolivian swamp along the Itanomas River, posing a terrifying survival ordeal. He and his four passengers shared a harrowing 36 hours dodging the hellish scene just described. The ill-fated flight, coming from Baures in northern Bolivia and going to Trinidad, experienced engine failure, leading to the emergency landing.
The aircraft had disappeared from radar over the Beni Department of central Bolivia just before the start of the emergency. Velarde and his companions—a trio of women and a child—were marooned on top of the downed aircraft as they waited for rescue. Their work just got a whole lot more dangerous with alligators swimming around. Even at ten feet, some of these scary critters were only mere inches away from their next unfortunate meal.
Fishermen found the quartet in Bolivia’s Amazonas department, saving them from a terrible fate. Wilson Avila, director of the Beni Department’s emergency operations center, said it was “good fortune” that the survivors were in “excellent condition.”
The survivors experienced great difficulty for the week they were marooned. Velarde recounted the dire circumstances:
“We couldn’t drink water and we couldn’t go anywhere else because of the alligators.” – Andres Velarde
The leaking fuel from the plane formed a barrier that probably kept the alligators out. This was done to keep the survivors dry and safe from above on the aircraft. It was the persistent danger posed by the snakes that further exacerbated the residents’ fear while they waited for assistance.
This incredible rescue highlights the dangers encountered by those journeying across remote, treacherous terrains. Emergency services were quick to attend after the fishermen spotted his location, putting an end to a 17-hour ordeal.
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