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Juliane Koepcke fell from a plane and survived alone in the Amazon jungle. Photo/Wings of Hope/Youtube
AMAZON – A 17-year-old girl has managed to survive alone in the Amazon rainforest for weeks after falling two miles to the ground after a plane crash.
Juliane Koepcke, who is still alive today, was aboard LANSA Flight 508 which crashed into the Peruvian Amazon after being struck by lightning in December 1971.
He was the only survivor of the 92 people on board when he plunged two miles into the air, still strapped to his seat.
Despite a broken collarbone, a deep gash to his right arm, an eye injury and a concussion, he was able to travel through the dense forest for 10 days and find shelter in a local hut.
He had to battle mosquitoes and terrible hunger before fishermen found him and brought him in his canoe back to civilization.
His arms were also covered in maggots. Remembering his father’s advice, he poured gasoline over him and removed the maggots after being rescued.
Juliane’s mother, who was sitting in the seat next to her, said in her last words on the plane, “That’s the end, it’s over.”
His parents ran a research center studying wildlife in the Amazon jungle, and the knowledge he gained there proved invaluable for his survival.