An account of an expedition in a remote part of the Bolivian Amazonas, where the Scientific Exploration Society team sought a meteorite believed to have crashed into the jungle 50,000 years ago.

Wildlife studies were carried out, and a pedal organ taken from a Dorset church to the chapel at Ojaki village. Medical and dental aid was given to the indigenous people and several were taught to play the organ.

The team used paramotors for the first time on a scientific quest. The unusual “double nosed Andean tiger hound” was also studied.

To reach the area, the team faced a long and challenging journey over the dreaded “road of death” in the Andes and down a tributary of the Amazon.

As one of the world’s most seasoned and respected explorers, the former Royal Engineer Colonel John Blashford-Snell has organised and led over 120 expeditions, including the first descent of the Blue Nile and the navigation of virtually all the 2700 miles of the Congo as well as the first vehicle crossing of the complete Darien Gap. Many of his expeditions were supported by the Army.

Under the patronage of Prince Charles he led the global expeditions for young people of 30 nations named Operations Drake and Raleigh.

As a soldier he saw active service around the world including Oman, where he took his Engineer Field squadron to assist the Sultan’s Armed Forces in the Dhofar conflict.

He is closely involved in helping disadvantaged young in Britain and abroad and holds many of the top awards for scientific exploration.

He is President of the Scientific Exploration Society and the Just a Drop water charity and a pioneer of innovative means of transport.