Netflix's 'The Lost Children' ending explained: were the children ever found?

Netflix's documentary The Lost Children has captivated viewers with the harrowing story of four Mucutuy children lost in the Amazon Rainforest following a plane crash. The film chronicles the search efforts to locate the children and their eventual rescue after weeks in the wilderness.

After the crash, it was confirmed that all adult passengers had died, but the children—ages 1 to 13—were missing. Authorities from Colombia and local indigenous communities teamed up in a joint search effort. While the Colombian authorities relied on modern techniques, the indigenous groups used traditional methods, ultimately leading to a successful rescue.

The documentary highlights that after several weeks of unsuccessful search efforts, the indigenous people performed a local ritual involving ayahuasca, a potent psychedelic, in hopes of finding the children. This ritual inspired renewed efforts, and the following day, the children were found in a severely malnourished state.

The children were led by Leslie, the eldest, who had taken charge of their survival by foraging for food and catching fish. Leslie also described hearing helicopters overhead but was unable to signal them.

Once found, the children were taken into care by the Colombian government, where they recovered under the supervision of family welfare officials. The children, it is believed, stayed hidden in part due to their fear of their abusive father, who had a history of mistreating their mother.

The Lost Children is currently streaming on Netflix, offering a powerful story of survival, resilience, and the importance of collaboration.