Plane crash survivor found after three nights in Bolivian jungle

Sep 9, 2011, 22:17 GMT

La Paz - A single survivor was found Friday in Bolivia's Amazonian jungle, three days after the crash of a small plane that killed the other eight people on board.

'I ate nothing at all. I just drank my own urine when I was thirsty. The first night I slept in the plane and the other two nights in the jungle,' said Mino Vidal Huerta, 35.

The Aerocon plane carrying seven passengers and a crew of two crashed late Tuesday as it flew from Santa Cruz to Trinidad in eastern Bolivia. Vidal Huerta was rescued Friday by a military patrol on the shore of Lake Rosendi, some 18 kilometres north of Trinidad airport.

'I have been born again,' he said.

Vidal Huerta could shed little light on the accident itself.

'I could not understand why the plane was flying so low. Then there was a strong blow. I cannot remember anything else,' he said.

'When I woke up, I saw the plane torn apart. I couldn't move. I stayed in my seat, which was at the back of the plane. The following day, (Wednesday) I got out, and I drew an arrow on a T-shirt, with my blood, so they could look for me. All the passengers were dead.'

Vidal Huerta said he walked day and night until he was found early Friday.

He already came close to a rescue Thursday: 'Some fishermen saw me. I shook my arm several times, they answered me, and then they left. I'm sure they thought I was greeting them.'

Vidal Huerta said he tried to swim across the small lake but had to turn back. 'I feel terrible pain in my ribs,' he said.

He was found with a large contusion on the right side of his head. Doctors said he will need several surgeries to fix broken bones.