The Orchid Hunters

The Orchid Hunters

S2012 E16: Tom Hart Dyke is travelling through Central America in search of wild orchids. Paul Winder is in search of adventure. Together they attempt to cross from Panama to Colombia via the notoriously dangerous Darien Gap but are captured and held hostage by a revolutionary guerrilla group. With a $3 million dollar ransom placed on their heads they realize that their only chance of survival is to escape but any plans to make a dash for it are shattered when Tom discovers maggots have infested his leg. After a makeshift operation where the maggots are removed with a razor blade they are forced marched deep into the jungle. Angry at the lack of progress with the ransom the guerrillas lose patience and Paul and Tom worry they'll be killed. But astonishingly nine months into the ordeal they are released. As they dash for freedom they make one final mistake and take the wrong path. Gradually they descend into a mire of swampland and over the next few days they become hungry lost and disorientated. They only have one option, to go back to their captors and ask for better directions but they had been warned that if they ever return they would have their heads blown off.