TERROR IN THE AMAZON!

“URGENT! WE WERE ATTACKED BY PIRATES ARMED WITH HIGH-CALIBER WEAPONRY!”

We found the above posting in our facebook message box. It came from the Amazon 5000 expedition support team members in Brazil.

Back in Orlando at the Amazon 5000 command center we tensed reading the message. We know that the expedition body has been split into two teams with Mickey inland seeking medical care to his illness while the other team is on a makeshift balsa raft floating on the mighty Amazon River - a No-man land. They are on their way to a dedicated checkpoint that Mickey has assigned for them all to meet later on.

“THE ASSAULT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AMAZON RIVER as we crossed to a small jungle village location" they wrote. "We were afraid for our lives as they have threatened us seriously. The pirates had us drowning in the river. They beat our heads up with the butts of their powerful automatic sub-machine guns and threw us all into the river.  They then searched all our backpacks for “DRUGS".  After 20 minutes of torture and threats when they didn't find any drugs they left us all together in the middle of the AMAZON RIVER. They stole most of our expedition gear and the money we carried. It took us great EFFORTS IN ORDER TO reach the village.  We are nervous and terrified following this terror event ...”

The team continued to say:

“We were threatened! We were not injured but tortured. These were dramatic moments we can hardly erase from our minds”.

While none of the Amazon 5000 team members has been physically injured they have had yet another emotional trauma experiencing yet another TERROR ON THE AMAZON, while on locations the expedition crosses along their cancer awareness journey.

Back at home in Florida, we are in direct contact with the expedition team whom are keeping a low profile in a small village while recuperating from their trauma. Meanwhile Mickey is seriously ill and must be treated by professional medical care so to regain his strength in order to be able to continue to lead the last 1000 miles of the expedition.

Again, The Amazon 5000 expedition is stationary in one location – and that is NOT GOOD. The Brazilian people along the region of the Amazon are neurotic with an easy finger on the gun trigger. It is a POLICE STATE Region where every citizen is an informer for the benefit of cash or other goods. AND THEY ARE HATEFUL TO FOREIGNERS – Especially to GRINGOS!

                                      

Since crossing into Brazil the Amazon 5000 team has experienced raid after raid by the Military Federal Police forces. With each community they pass by along the river someone is reporting our team to the police and yet another armed unit appears from nowhere with automatic machine guns pointed at the Amazon 5000 team members’ heads and seeking for drugs and drugs and drugs. This is madness!

Armed pirates roaming free along the Amazon River on one hand, Armed Federal Military Police on the other, and hostile local Brazilian indigenous communities in the middle… And the unarmed Amazon 5000 team is now in a constant danger and at a constant big risk to their life: Not by the Elements! Not by Nature! Nor the Wildlife! ONLY by Mankind!!!

The AMAZON 5000 expedition, to remind you all, is all about SURVIVAL of the ELEMENTS through rugged terrain, harsh climate and pristine wilderness, all are part of the marvels of the Mighty AMAZON we all grew to love so much in the past 8 months and 4000 miles throughout the virtual window MICKEY GROSMAN has provided us with in a constant LIVE electronic communication.   

But MANKIND proved to be the most dangerous element among all and the biggest obstacle Mickey and his crew are to overcome!

                                                   

                 

We must end here with our big concern to Mickey’s health and to the safety of his team, as without him able to stand back on his feet and lead his expedition safely, the remaining 1000 miles of the Amazon 5000 expedition is in jeopardy.

Mickey himself has now come to big concerns for the nearest future of the expedition. His concerns are mainly with the safety of his people – the Amazon 5000 support team - and the fact he is still going through the turmoil of his illness, a fact that prevents him from being fully focused and alert as needed in such a hostile environment. 

He weighs various options to complete the last 1000 miles of this inspirational journey in a way that will assure no one’s life is at stake and no one will be harmed by mankind. 

While he has confidence in their ability to survive the elements along their 5000 miles path it is now obvious mankind is the biggest threat of all!

*** We wish to shed a strong spotlight here on Mickey’s loyal and courageous crew that despite all the TERROR IN THE AMAZON they are standing firm behind him. These are some of their words:

“Hoy somos mas fuertes que nunca! Y continuaremos inteligentemente por las vias que sean necesarias....”

Translation – “Today we are stronger than ever! And we will continue along the tracks intelligently necessary…”

“Nosotros estamos firmes para apoyar a Mickey! Incluso hemos arriengado nuestras vidas…”

Translation – “We are firm to support Mickey! Even if we risk our lives …”

“que hoy somos mas uertes que nunca… NI UN PASO ATRAS!”

 Translation -“we are today stronger than ever ... Not one step back!”

“Ya estamos mejor y el equipo aqui esta muy solido!”

Translation – “We're better and the team here is very solid!”

The latest quote we received from the Amazon 5000 team:

We regret the difficult situation Mickey is at. I particularly have been with him in recent months "in the deep jungle of the Amazon" And I saw his courage and determination in favor of his cause, fighting cancer. I've seen Mickey a great person and great human being with a strong and explosive character and he is for me like a father with the learning to be a living on ... Never forgets his strength in the most difficult time!