An impressive operation, which lasted almost 20 hours, restored hope to the family of Shimeall, a US citizen who was trapped in the most remote points of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

The emergency, which activated an immediate response from the National Government and the Government of Magdalena, ended successfully thanks to a key player on the ground: the indigenous communities.

The emergency, which activated a Government response, was thanks to the indigenous communities of the area, who were the first to locate the foreigner and transfer him to a safe area to facilitate his aerial extraction in the midst of extreme geographical conditions.

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A helicopter from the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) took off from Bogotá to carry out the evacuation from the community of Jekichen (Yechiuin).

After a technical stopover in Nabusimake, spiritual capital of the Arhuacos, the patient was stabilized before his final transfer to the Córdoba Battalion in Santa Marta.

According to the official report, the leadership of the communities and the coordination with the US embassy were decisive for the American citizen to be able to leave the mountain alive, despite his delicate state of health.

At the time of being admitted to the Julio Méndez Barreneche Hospital, the medical diagnosis confirmed the seriousness of the situation: Shimeall presents severe dehydration and critical pulmonary complications that forced his immediate admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

For now, the foreigner remains under medical observation while he recovers from the odyssey experienced in the heart of the Sierra.

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