Incredible moment 4 children lost in Colombian jungle for 40 days after plane crash are airlifted to safety

THIS is the incredible moment four children who spent 40 days lost in the Colombian jungle after a plane crash are finally rescued. Footage shows the kids being hauled onto a helicopter after they were finally discovered during a massive search operation. It was a miracle as the rescuers finally found the children They brought they aboard the helicopter via winch One child appears to smile as he is saved from the jungle All the adults who had been traveling with the children – including their mum Magdalena Mucutui Valencia – had been killed in the crash. But there was hope when the wreckage of the plane was found – and half-eaten fruit was discovered at the crash site. Search and rescue teams believed the kids were still alive and set about scouring the wilds of the jungle. And now a miracle, the kids – Lesly, 13, Soleiny, 9,  Tien Noriel, 4, and baby Cristin – have been found. The video features the children clinging to the military crew as they are winched aboard the rescue helicopter, dubbed “Angel”. And one of the kids is even seen smiling as his ordeal is finally over. Despite being dehydrated and covered in insect bites – the children appeared to be remarkably healthy. The Colombian Air Force shared the remarkable footage – saying the rescue took place despite bad weather. President Gustavo Petro said finding the group was a “magical day”. He said: “They were alone, they themselves achieved an example of total survival which will remain in history. “These children are today the children of peace and the children of Colombia.” The kids are now being cared for by military nurses. The group was flying from a jungle location to San Jose del Guaviare, one of the main cities in Colombia’s Amazon rainforest. The crash happened on the border between Guaviare and Caquetá where giant trees can grow up to 40 meters tall and heavy rainfall is common. After finding the crash site, hundreds of Special Forces soldiers and indigenous volunteers scoured the jungle for the children. It was dubbed “Operation Hope”. Three helicopters were deployed, one of which blasted out a recorded message from the kids’ grandmother in their native Huitoto language, telling them to stop moving through the jungle. Four children who were missing for six weeks after a plane crash in the Amazon jungle have been found aliveMinistry of National Defense of Colombia AFPThe crash killed the boys’ mother, along with the pilot and an indigenous leader[/caption] The children were reportedly dehydrated and had insect bites but were otherwise in good conditionMinistry of National Defense of Colombia At one point, rescuers found some of the children’s belongings along with a makeshift shelter and half-eaten food. A baby’s drinking bottle and pieces of fruit were spotted before the shelter’s discovery. Scissors, shoes, and hair ties could be seen among branches on the jungle floor in photographs released by the military. Searches intensified after the discovery of the children’s items, with sniffer dogs brought in to help. The children are from the Indigenous Huitoto community, also spelled Witoto, who are known for living in harmony with the remote jungle. FIGHT TO SURVIVE The community develops skills in hunting, fishing, and gathering, which may have helped the children survive. Huitoto leaders previously said that they hoped the children would use their knowledge of fruits and the jungle, giving them a better chance of being found alive. Authorities have not yet revealed what caused the plane crash. The pilot reported problems with the engine minutes before the plane disappeared from radar, Colombia’s disaster response body said. It is a region with few roads and is also difficult to access by river, so airplane transport is common. Manuel Ranoque, whose wife and four children were on the plane, told local media: “I would give anything to have my family by my side to pamper them. “May God forgive us if we have failed in something.” AFPPictures released by the Colombian Army show the crashed plane in the forest in a rural area of the municipality of Solano[/caption] AFPScissors, shoes, and a baby’s bottle could be seen among branches on the jungle floor[/caption]