Andes Crash

The recent aritical about human endurance  inspired me into this post. One of the story struck me with 'hey, there are survivors from ten thousands kilometres height airplane crash!!  It wasn't a fiction like we seen in the film! It was REAL!!

I stucked on 'Andes Crash' amid my research about SURVIVAL for my previous post. Didn't intend to delve into, however the spirit of survival strucked me with greatest sense of imaginary than I ever had. I spent hours and days searching and comprehend the entire scene and story, it's a touching, worth reading.

In my wildest spare time, I've ever picture if I would be one of the victim of an airplane crash, what do I do? First thing come across my mind was, oh oxygen mask. haha. Then I will reminisce my life with my family and friends. I will be regretted not spending good time with my old folks at home, and didn't do my best as a mother to my daughter. Then I will most probably die in  crash with my body smashed into pieces (I think) or into ocean and eaten by shark or drown. Whatever it's I-Never-Ever-Thought-Of-There-Could-Be-Survivors. However ignorant or innocent I was, it happened.

Friday, 13 Oct 1972, a 2 engines turbopro Fairchild  FH221-d, flight 571 carried a group of Rugby Team, students and other loose passengers, 40 of them in total from Uruguay to Chile for a match. It was supposed to be an exciting trip, full of spirit to take part in the game, glory in the hope. However a glory hope turn out to be a biggest challenge in life - fight for survival.

Due to misjudge for landing the airplane crashed at the snow caped mountain eventually. Strong winds blindfolded the decision making resulted the fatal error, one third of the passenger died upon crashing including the captain and crew, another 8 died after swept of avalanche.

Stranded at 11,000 feets high Andes (El Milagro de los Andes) near South America, the remainder 16 passengers contracted minor injury clung to life for good 72 days (2.5 months). Snow mountains are the only scene within sights, though it can be romantically snuggle in a camp for two but this wasn't the hype at that moment. Frights from crash, depression over decease of family members (Nando Parradon's sister and mother died in the same crash) are not the concern anymore but how to survive. Not to mention their career, bank account, study, business, car or house, the catalyst of clinging to live was able to get back  and warm hug with their family members at home.

Given scarce of resources, food, water and shelter, they survived through the believe in god and the trust developed within. They hid in the wreck aircraft for warmth, melted the snow for water and ate the dead body for food. Some medical students even innovated sunglasses from the corkpit screen to avoid contact with scorching sunlight. What aggravate the situation was  the rescue team cancelled the search after 11 days, assuming all couldn't make it through the freezing cold of -30 degree and died (we were lucky because freezing mountain is rare occasion unless we travel. Our proximity are hot weather all year long). 

Out of  fear, pain, depression they could have loss of hope TOTALLY. It was 1972, Internet was newly invented, who would able to locate them in an unnamed mountain heights?  How do they survive through scarce resources? Some of them had even planned their dying path - walk to the west before they become the item for food. Mountains and mountains high, civilisation is far to be seen. Imagine death is the only option.

Wide spread of snow caped mountains, two heros, Nando Parrado and Roberto Cannesa decided to trek for hope, defy against the destiny. Ten days with limited resources, good ten days (frankly I wonder how did they survived in the very first place, it was freezing cold with limited energy to burn, in this circumstances  they bring them with no food! I left out how they deperate for food, including aircraft seat to find straws but latex is something they could derived, leather goods, although it's synthetic blended). 10 good days of trekking before they finally give up, they met a Shepherd...

The story was truly eye-opening, amazing and inspiring. One would never thought of able to survive and they made it through steely focus and hope. Read more if you wish to know more..click here. or here.

Like any other popular news in the world, this ordeal has been narrated in the a blockbuster film 'ALIVE', cannibalism was recounted as well, however the review was pretty poor, as it left out heart-moving scene like group structure, spirit of teamwork etc. For more comprehensive version, you may try Piers Paul Read’s book “ALIVE ( I haven't read but I would get it soon).

Today, we are fortunate with the advanced of technology wit GPS. Rescuer would able to locate a trace within an hour...if you ever stranded from airplane crash.



Updates:

I went to bookstore to search for the book under the section of memoir but unavail. I reckoned this book was somehow published long ago, it may not sold in the bookstore anymore.

Didn't intend to connect to so much of sobbing story, however after certain deliberation I decided to share another story of airplane crash incident Juliane Koepcke - The ONLY Survivor. How does she survived through a strength of her alone? Read this