19-Year-Old Influencer Ethan Guo Permitted to Leave Chilean Antarctic After He Was Stranded for 6 Weeks by Authorities
Ethan Guo, who is traveling the world to raise money for cancer research, was required to remain in the Chilean Antarctic Territory after local authorities said he illegally landed his small plane
On Monday, a judge dropped charges against the 19-year-old influencer after he agreed to donate $30,000 to a children's cancer foundation, the Associated Press reported
Guo had documented his travel journey on social media and raised over $130,000 for cancer research in honor of his cousin, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2021A young American influencer can finally leave Antarctica after he was stranded for six weeks.
Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old content creator, was undertaking an effort to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents to raise $1 million for cancer research when local authorities say he illegally landed his small plane in Antarctica, per the Associated Press.
Now, after over a month in the Chilean Antarctic Territory, a judge has dropped charges against him, and he is required to leave, reported the AP.
According to the news agency, Guo lied to officials by providing them with 'false flight plan data.' Though prosecutors said he had been authorized to fly only over Punta Arenas, a Chilean hub and the closest major city to Antarctica, he continued heading south to the icy continent, the report states.
On June 29, the young traveler was charged with handing false information to ground control and landing without authorization. Per the AP, he had been required to remain in the Chilean Antarctic Territory.
On Monday, Aug. 11, Guo's lawyers and Chile's prosecutors came to an agreement that requires the teen to donate $30,000 to a children's cancer foundation within 30 days and not to reenter Chilean territory for three years, according to the AP. The judge dropped the charges against Guo as a result.
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In a text message to the AP, the content creator wrote that he was 'relieved by the outcome.'
'I remain in Antarctica awaiting approval for my departure flight,' Guo told AP of his plans to leave the continent. 'I sincerely hope they give it to me soon so that I and my plane can continue with my original mission.'
According to the influencer's website, he was inspired to start his mission to travel throughout the world to raise money for cancer research after his cousin was diagnosed with cancer in 2021.
'He inspired me to take life more seriously and join the fight against cancer,' reads his site. 'I want to use every opportunity to raise awareness of childhood cancer and the necessity to increase research efforts to find prevention and treatment methods.'
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On June 24, 2024, he shared his first video on Instagram, announcing the start of his journey. Over the next year, he regularly updated his following — which has grown to over 1.4 million people — about his travels.
In his most recent update, posted on July 23, just days before he was charged by Chilean authorities, he traveled from Davao City to Manila, Philippines, marking the 142nd day of his journey.
According to an online St. Jude fundraiser, Guo has raised over $131,000 for cancer research in honor of his cousin.
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