In a harrowing 36-hour ordeal, five crash survivors—three women, a child, and pilot Andres Velarde—braved an alligator-infested swamp, relying on local cassava flour and leaking kerosene for survival before being rescued.

This incredible tale of survival sheds light on the resourcefulness of the human spirit in the face of peril. Facing aggressive alligators just a few meters away, the survivors turned to cassava flour for sustenance while the leaking kerosene from their downed plane provided a dubious but effective deterrent against becoming dinner. After a sleepless night on top of their capsized aircraft, they used a phone flashlight to signal for help, showcasing that even in the most dire situations, a little creativity can lead to a miraculous rescue.

The drama began on an otherwise unremarkable flight from Baures to Trinidad when the unsuspecting passengers encountered engine trouble—leaving them to contemplate the joys of runaway alligators rather than mere turbulence. After a forced descent, the once-navigable plane made an emergency landing that even a novice pilot would likely have considered less than ideal, right in the embrace of nature’s most menacing barbecue restaurant: an alligator-infested swamp.

Upon crash landing, the group found themselves in a precarious situation, situated on top of the capsized plane with a menagerie of alligators lurking nearby. The beasts, ominously lounging around, seemed to be setting up a reservation for an impromptu feast. Fortunately, the survivors had a trick up their sleeves (if you consider cassava flour a suitable rations). Local to some, the flour helped to keep their spirits—and bellies—somewhat full for the duration, but it wasn’t going to win any Michelin stars anytime soon.

Desperate times call for quick thinking, and pilot Andres Velarde put his survival skills to the test, utilizing his smartphone flashlight to beam SOS signals into the murky abyss. It turns out the swamp was not bereft of benevolent life forms; nearby fishermen heard his calls and, presumably mistaken for an emergency TikTok challenge, rushed to the scene. Whether they figured it out before or after they noticed the alligators is still under investigation. Safety in numbers, some say—though for Velarde and his fellow castaways, it felt more like a David versus Goliath (or perhaps David versus several Goliaths?).

Ruben Torres, the Director of the Beni Region Health Department, chimed in to confirm the magnitude of the situation. "There was much speculation about their fate before they were found," he stated, undoubtedly alluding to the wild conspiracy theories that people likely spun while sipping their morning coffee. Did they build themselves a raft of cassava bread? Were they plotting a sophisticated alligator diplomacy strategy? Alas, we may never know.

As local fishermen and emergency officials joined forces to facilitate the rescue, the survivors remained in high spirits despite their precarious perch atop the capsized plane. Their situation was intense and challenging, as they couldn't drink water because of the alligators surrounding them, which came within three meters. One can only imagine the conversations they had in such a perilous situation.

When they were finally brought to safety, all five survivors emerged in excellent condition—an achievement that perhaps could be chalked up to two significant factors: their resilience and the general discomfort that comes with being surrounded by predators. Relief washed over them, not just because they had evaded cannibalistic reptiles but also because they had skillfully dodged yet another night under the stars—a night they said they could not face again. The prospect of mosquitoes was one challenge; alligators, quite another.

In the end, this incredible story serves not just as a survival tale, but as a reminder that sometimes the most harrowing experiences can also infuse a flicker of hope into those most dire of circumstances. While they may not have been ready to book their next adventure to the swamps, at least they could venture into life again, recounting their absurd experience over breakfast instead of the other way around.