The Miracle of the Andes: 72 Days in the Snowbound Hell

Chapter 1: The Flight That Never Landed

Friday, October 13, 1972, should have been an ordinary day for the Old Christians Club rugby team. The chartered Fairchild FH-227D rumbled down the runway at Carrasco International Airport, carrying 45 souls toward what should have been a routine one-hour hop across the Andes to Santiago, Chile. Among the passengers: 19 young rugby players, their friends and family, and a crew of five. The mood was light—jokes about Friday the 13th were exchanged as the plane climbed into cloudy skies.

The Final Moments Before Impact

• 1:30 PM: Pilot reports entering Andes turbulence
• 2:18 PM: Mistaken turn toward Curicó instead of Planchón pass
• 2:30 PM: “We’re passing Curicó now… how much longer to Santiago?” (last radio transmission)
• 2:33 PM: Right wing clips mountain peak at 13,800 feet

“The plane tilted violently left,” survivor Roberto Canessa recalled. “Then we were falling, seats ripping from the floor, people screaming prayers.”

Chapter 2: The First Night in Hell

The Immediate Aftermath

• Crash Site: Glacier at 11,710 feet (-30°C/-22°F at night)
• Initial Death Toll: 12 on impact, 5 more by morning
• Survivors’ Condition: Broken bones, internal bleeding, altitude sickness

Improvised Shelter:
The intact fuselage became their refuge—a frozen metal coffin where:
✓ Seats became beds
✓ Luggage became walls
✓ Broken electronics became tools

“We covered the windows with snow to keep warmth in… and the horror out.”
— Nando Parrado, survivor

Chapter 3: The Unthinkable Decision

Day 10: Starvation Sets In

Food Source	Calories/Day
Chocolate bars	200 (ran out Day 5)
Wine	50 (gone by Day 8)
Snow water	0
The Dead	500-800

“We discussed it for three days,” said Carlitos Páez. “Either we lived with the dead, or we died with them.”

The Ethical Debate

• Medical student Canessa explained protein necessity
• Catholic players held secret communion services
• Agreement: Only those already gone would be “used”

Chapter 4: The Impossible Journey

The Expedition Team

• Nando Parrado (head trauma survivor)
• Roberto Canessa (medical student)
• Antonio “Tintin” Vizintín (turned back)

Their Gear:
✘ No climbing equipment
✘ No cold-weather gear
✔ Patched-together sleeping bag (seat covers)
✔ Human-flesh rations (6 lbs for 10-day trek)

The Climb From Hell

1. Day 1: Ascend 15,000-ft peak (discovered they were west of Argentina)
2. Day 3: Find airplane tail—radio dead but retrieve batteries
3. Day 7: Spot green valleys (still 45 miles away)
4. Day 10: Encounter Chilean arriero Sergio Catalán

“¡Vienen de un avión! ¡Somos uruguayos!” (“We come from a plane! We’re Uruguayans!”) — Parrado’s first words to Catalán

Chapter 5: The Rescue That Defied Odds

December 22-23, 1972

• Two helicopter teams scramble
• Whiteout conditions nearly abort mission
• First chopper reaches crash site at dusk

The Survivors’ Condition After 72 Days:
✓ Average weight loss: 45 lbs
✓ 3rd-degree frostbite on all
✓ Blood oxygen levels at 50% normal

“Seeing that first helicopter… I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or faint.” — Eduardo Strauch

Chapter 6: The Science of Survival

Medical Miracles

Condition	Survival Adaptation
Hypothermia	Metabolic slowdown (35°C core temp)
Starvation	Ketosis after 3 days (fat burning)
Altitude sickness	Increased red blood cell production

Shocking Fact: Their bodies recycled muscle tissue before attacking organs—nature’s failsafe.

Chapter 7: The Legacy

Psychological Impact

• Survivors Today: 16 still alive (2024)
• Common Traits: High resilience, spiritual depth
• PTSD Management: Annual reunions at crash site

Lessons for Survival Training

✓ Positive delusions help (“We’re getting out tomorrow”)
✓ Small goals prevent despair (“Just make it to sunset”)
✓ Social bonds trump individual strength

Why This Story Still Matters

The Andes survivors represent the ultimate test of human will. Their ordeal answers profound questions:

1. How much can the body endure? (Far more than we think)
2. What lines would you cross to live? (The answer surprises you)
3. Does hope need evidence? (No—it creates its own)

As survivor José Luis “Coche” Inciarte put it: “The mountains taught us that death is easy. Living—that’s the hard part.” Their 72-day battle against impossible odds remains history’s greatest testament to the indomitable human spirit.