The Incredible True Story Behind ‘The Lost Children’

The remarkable survival story of four young brothers who became stranded in the enormous Amazon rainforest is told in the stirring documentary ‘The Lost Children’ on the OTT platform. On Labor Day 2023, the siblings—the eldest only 13—were travelling to Bogotá to see their father when their jet crashed into the Amazon. The three adults on board—their mother, the pilot, and an Indigenous leader—were tragically killed in the crash, leaving the youngsters to fend for themselves.

The siblings' struggle as they dealt with extreme adversity is depicted in the movie. Their difficulties were exacerbated by the injury to Lesly, the oldest. Lesly even killed a snake to keep her siblings safe, and the kids managed to survive by gathering fruit. Their predicament was made more challenging by the youngest, who was only 11 months old. 

Image Courtesy: Netflix

Although it was very difficult to locate them in the dense Amazon, officials launched a large search and rescue operation, aided by Indigenous volunteers who were familiar with the area. They urged the kids to remain where they were by dropping messages from the skies. Only minor hints, such as diapers and footprints, were discovered for weeks, but these finds gave people hope.

When the baby's cries were heard, the children were eventually located after forty exhausting days. Weak and starved, but alive, they were found approximately three hours from the scene of the disaster. The kids were taken to the hospital after being rescued, where they were treated. The brothers' family's heartbreaking journey, including the challenging custody dispute over their future, is also highlighted in the documentary.

Viewers witness the Mucutuy siblings' tenacity throughout the movie, along with the tremendous efforts put forth by volunteers, rescuers, and their families to bring them home. It is heartbreaking and inspirational that they survived despite all odds.

–Farheen Ali