I'm hungry...and my mum is dead

1st words of Amazon rescue kids revealed

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

THE first words of the siblings who survived for nearly six weeks in the Amazon rainforest after their plane crashed have been shared by their rescuers.

Lesly Jacombaire Mucutuy, 13, Soleiny Jacombaire Mucutuy, nine, Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, five, and one-year-old Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy were yesterday being monitored and treated at amilitary hospital in Colombia.

A Colombian air force video showed a helicopter using lines to pull the youngsters up because it was not possible to land in the dense rainforest. Cristin, in a thermal blanket, was seen being offered water.

Soldiers said the eldest child, Lesly, ran towards them holding her brother Cristin when she saw them. Nicolas Ordonez Gomes, one of the rescuers, said he was told, "I'm hungry" and, "my mum is dead".