Mother, baby survive Colombia jungle plane crash

A young mother and her baby have been found alive five days after their plane crashed in the jungle of western Colombia.

A Colombian Air Force chief described their survival as "a miracle".

Maria Nelly Murillo, 18, and her one-year-old son were found by rescuers near to where their small Cessna plane crashed in Choco province.

Murillo had some injuries and burns while her baby appeared to be in good health.

Handout photo released on June 24, 2015 by the Aerial Combat Command Number 5 of the Colombian Air Force of a Cessna 303 light aircraft after it crashed while going from Nuqui to Quibdo, Choco department, Colombia on Saturday. A woman and her baby were rescued Wednesday after the light aircraft in which they travelled crashed in the forest of northwestern Colombia Saturday. Photo: AFP/ Colombian Air Force

Rescuers reached the plane on Monday and found the pilot, Carlos Mario Ceballos, dead in the cockpit.

Handout photo released on June 24, 2015 by the Aerial Combat Command Number 5 of the Colombian Air Force of a Red Cross member holding baby Yudier Moreno as he and his mother are transported on a helicopter to a hospital in Quibdo, Choco department, Colombia, after the light aircraft in which they were travelling crashed Saturday in the forest. Photo: AFP/ Colombian Air Force

"It's a miracle. It is a very wild area and it was a catastrophic accident," Colonel Hector Carrascal of the Colombian Air Force told AFP news agency.

Of the baby, he said: "His mother's spirit must have given him strength to survive."

The couple were airlifted to a hospital in Quibdo.