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Thread: 1972 Andes plane crash - survival story

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    Default 1972 Andes plane crash - survival story

    I just read this autobiographical book from one of the surviors of that plane crash. "Miracle In The Andes" by Nando Parrado. Anyways what a great book. They flew off with 50 people on board, crashed in the middle of the Andes, half of the people were killed on impact. At first they survived by just melting snow for water and eating what food they had. Then there search and rescue was called off. They ran out of food and turned into cannibals, cutting up and eating the dead bodies from the crash. But after a while people started to die from starvation, infection, and an avalanche. After about 2 months up there they lost 10 more people and were down to 15 survivors. They realized they were only going to get saved by walking to civilation, 80 miles away. A few of them then took off through the mountains, scaled a 5000 foot mountain face and back down again, and walked 10 days through glaciers and mountain canyons before finding the first tiny town. The rest is history.


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    Senior Member Aurelius95's Avatar
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    There was a movie made in the 1990's (1994, maybe?) called Alive. It was based on the book of the same name. While it wasn't autobiographical, it did recount the story through the eyes of the survivors. If I remember correctly, it was a rugby team along with family/friends/coaches, etc. who crashed. The movie was decent, I think (it's been a while).
    Not all who wander are lost - Tolkien

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    Senior Member bulrush's Avatar
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    Yep, I saw the movie. I believe it was an Andean rugby team. The only food they had were a few chocolate bars, and some wine.

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    There's an earlier book, also called "Alive", which I read in the late '70s. It doesn't dramatize the events, it's simply factual (and in places, rather dull) but it gives a good insight into the anguish they suffered before making the decision to eat the dead. The later chapters also address some of the issues the survivors faced once they returned to civilization, such as the media attention and hostility from (some of) the relatives of those that were eaten.

    Me? I just consider my body to be a vehicle I use for gettin' around while I'm here on earth. Once I'm done with it, it wouldn't worry me one whit if someone else scarfed it down in order to stay alive. Although admittedly, there isn't too much meat on it.

    I'd much rather my final resting place be somewhere out in the wilds where the critters can have at my carcass, than have it reduced to ashes, or stuck in a hole in the ground.
    Life is too short to hurry through.
    ~ Kenny Salwey

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