How 16 young men defied the odds to live for 72 days in the mountains
On October 13, 1972, a chartered Douglas DC-3 plane carrying 45 passengers and crew crashed in the Andes Mountains of South America. The crash killed 29 people, and 16 survivors were stranded in the harsh and unforgiving environment.
The survivors were members of the Old Christians Club rugby team from Montevideo, Uruguay. They were on their way to Chile to play a match when their plane crashed into a mountain peak.
The survivors were faced with a number of challenges. They were injured, had limited supplies, and were surrounded by snow and ice. They also had to contend with the harsh weather conditions, which included temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Survivors
The 16 survivors were a diverse group of young men. They ranged in age from 19 to 29 years old, and they came from a variety of backgrounds.
Some of the survivors were experienced mountaineers, while others had no experience at all. Some were religious, while others were not.
Despite their differences, the survivors were able to come together and work together to survive. They formed a strong bond and supported each other through the difficult times.
The First Days
The survivors spent the first few days after the crash trying to rescue themselves. They built a makeshift shelter from the wreckage of the plane, and they tried to signal for help.
However, no one saw their signals, and they realized that they would have to survive on their own.
The Decision to Eat the Dead
After about a week, the survivors ran out of food. They knew that they had to do something drastic to survive, or they would all die.
They eventually decided to eat the bodies of the dead passengers. This was a difficult decision, but it was the only way to survive.
The Rescue
After 72 days in the mountains, the survivors were finally rescued by a Chilean Air Force helicopter. They were weak and emaciated, but they were alive.
The survivors’ story is a remarkable one of survival and resilience. They overcame incredible odds to live, and their story has inspired people all over the world.
Conclusion
The Andes plane crash survivors are a testament to the human spirit. They showed that even in the most difficult of circumstances, it is possible to survive and thrive.
Recommendations
If you are interested in learning more about the Andes plane crash survivors, there are a number of resources available.
The following are a few suggestions:
- The book Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read provides a detailed account of the survivors’ story.
- The documentary Alive tells the story of the survivors through interviews and archival footage.
- The website of the Andes Survivors Foundation provides information about the survivors and their work.
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