Now Reading: Tragedy in Colombia: three Lanceros students lose their lives in the Magdalena River
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Tragedy in Colombia: three Lanceros students lose their lives in the Magdalena River
Tragedy in Colombia: three Lanceros students lose their lives in the Magdalena River
The Education and Doctrine Command of the Colombian National Army provided further information on Tuesday. on the tragic event that occurred on July 14, 2009when three students of the Lancers School died during a training exercise on the Magdalena River.
From disappearance to discovery
The tragedy began Monday morning, when authorities reported the disappearance of three military personnel who were participating in an exercise of the demanding Lancers Course, designed for the training of elite soldiers.
According to an official Army statement, a group of 11 students was tasked with the mission of "to carry out the preparation of improvised rafts for tactical movement in tributaries".This is a standard practice within this type of advanced training, in the jurisdiction of the department of Cundinamarca, in the center of the country.
Although the participants were wearing life jackets and had successfully passed rigorous physical tests, including swimming tests, the raft in which they were traveling was swept away by the powerful current of the Magdalena and sucked under a planchon, a motorized platform used for river crossings of vehicles and people. The boat was trapped under the structure, preventing the three second lieutenants from reaching the surface.
Intense search operation
A search operation against the clock was deployed for more than 24 hours. It involved units of the Armed Forces, the National Police, the Fire Department, the Colombian Civil Defense and a specialized team composed of 17 divers, a reconnaissance drone and 2D sonar technology to search the bottom of the river.
Finally, the authorities confirmed that the three officers were found dead.
A maneuver that ended in tragedy
According to preliminary information, the raft was swept away by the strong current and sucked under the slab, leaving the trapped soldiers unable to ascend.
The Army explained that this was a raft refurbishment maneuver inside a "tactical move" the usual. However, river conditions caused the situation to take a fatal turn.
Three young officers with a vocation for service
The National Army paid a heartfelt tribute to the memory of the three second lieutenants, highlighting their commitment to the homeland and their military vocation:
- Second Lieutenant Jhonatan Esteban Cortés Salamancafrom Bogota, belonged to the Communications Arm. He was about to turn 25 years old on November 2. His colleagues remember him as a friendly and dreamy young man, determined to become a Lancer.
- Second Lieutenant Nicolás Chaparro Guillénalso from Bogota, was 23 years old and a member of the Artillery. He was appreciated for his dreamy character and his deep bond with his family.
- Second Lieutenant Elián Sebastián Beltrán Vanegasborn in Caparrapí (Cundinamarca), belonged to the Infantry. He would have been 24 years old in December. He had recently been promoted to the rank of second lieutenant after an outstanding career as a non-commissioned officer, being recognized for his high performance and spirit of self-improvement.
Army regrets loss and initiates investigation
The Army commander, General Luis Emilio Cardozo, ordered a "rigorous research" to clarify the causes of the accident and prevent similar events from occurring in the future.
In an official communiqué, the institution expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the soldiers, underlining their excellent performance and unwavering commitment during their short but valuable career in the service of Colombia.
