infant hand resting in parent's
Jade Small
Jade Small
December 20, 2023 ·  3 min read

Infant was found alive in dead mother’s lifeless arms; she cradled him during a plane crash that killed both parents

Unconditional love, protection, and sacrifice are what every mother gives to their children. This is a story of one mother who ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. It was an act of unconditional love and bravery which ultimately saved her infant child’s life.

October 13, 2020, was when the tragic accident occurred. Mayerly Diaz Rojas and her husband, Fabio Grandas, were inside a small aircraft with their infant son, Martin. Their son’s nanny, Nuris Maza, was also on that flight. For unknown reasons, the plane crashed, and Ubate, Colombia, residents searched for survivors, only to find one. An infant baby boy cradled in the lifeless arms of his mother.

mother holding child by pool
Credit – Facebook

According to reports from those who surveyed the wreckage, the mother used her own body to shield her child from the impending crash. She did everything she could to fully protect her baby with all of her body, like a shell.

Unknown Emergency Before the Crash

Fabio was piloting the HK 2335-G plane on that day. He had made an emergency call moments before the plane crashed down. A well-known doctor and member of the Civil Air Patrol for several years, Fabio was more than familiar with flying a plane. He also had all mechanics of the aircraft inspected before the flight. All of the paperwork for their flight from Santa Marta to Guaymaral was approved as well.

The couple died after their plane crashed in Ubate
Credit: Mayerly Diaz/Newsflash

The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority was investigating the crash when they made a public statement: “According to initial information, the aeroplane had all of its technical documentation up to date.”

The Sun

An unknown emergency call was made moments before the plane tragically crashed, and sadly the plane never made it to its final destination. Everyone aboard the aircraft lost their lives that day, except for baby Martin who only survived because of the sacrifice his mother made for him.

Read: ‘I’m not going to let you die’: Pregnant mother rescues 3 girls from drowning in Lake Michigan

Baby Found Alive

When the wreckage was searched, and baby Martin was found to be alive, he was rushed to the Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota University Hospital. Reports after the crash stated that the infant was in stable condition and doing well.

The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority reported that: “a baby, who was also travelling in the aeroplane, is being attended at this time in an assistance centre.” The Authority also expressed their “solidarity with the families of the victims.”

The Sun

Sadly, no more information about the crash was released after the investigation was completed. Whether or not there was a malfunction with the engine or technological equipment, we will never know. But we do know one thing- the love that Mayerly had for her child is indisputable. What a true act of bravery and self-sacrifice.

This story is remarkably sad, and it’s something we mothers hope we never have to go through. What are your thoughts on this story? We’d love to hear your comments below.

Keep Reading: A mother who fell 4 floors and shattered her pelvis in the Miami condo collapse pulled herself and her daughter out of the rubble

Sources

  1. SACRIFICED HERSELF Baby is sole survivor of plane crash that killed parents after being found in arms of mum who used body to shield infant.” The Sun. Ben Hill. October 15, 2020
  2. Infant found alive in dead mother’s lifeless arms; she cradled him during a plane crash that killed both parents.” Newsner. Binitha Jacob.October 16, 2020.