A Colombian soldier lost in the jungle reportedly survived on two things: turtles and rap music.
An article published by Colombian Reports detailed this soldier’s harrowing tale of survival when Yefer Sanchez was separated from his unit while conducting a routine patrol in a section of the jungle in Colombia.
The jungles of Colombia are massive and a well known place where people can get lost if they don’t know where they’re going. They’re also the base to many paramilitary groups that have fought the Colombian government for decades. Groups like The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), National Liberation Army (ELN) and United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) at points used the jungle as headquarters for their activities.
A soldier lost in the jungle puts himself at risk because of the tensions between government forces and the groups. Sanchez told Colombian Reports that he kept hope alive by rapping songs to himself. According to the article, Sanchez is an avid rap fan and is known to recite rap songs to his comrades. It’s unknown what songs he actually recited. The lost soldier was eventually located after the Colombian army conducted a massive search of the jungle, he was medically treated at a military base.