Miracle of the Andes: The true story behind ‘Society of the Snow’

The miracle of the Andes flight 571.

The true story behind Society of the Snow.

More than 50 years have passed since that accident.

Some call it the miracle of the Andes and others describe it as an example of faith and perseverance.

The survivors of this accident clung to life when it seemed that all was lost.

Forty passengers and five crew members were on board a flight that departed from Montevideo to Santiago de Chile.

Tragically, of the 45 people on board, only 16 were rescued alive after the accident.

Uruguayan Air Force flight 571

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The president of a Uruguayan rugby team hired a a former Uruguayan Air Force twin-propeller plane for the trip.

Many of those on board were young people between 18 and 25 years old. Some of their family members were also with them.

Despite the bad weather conditions, the flight departed on October 13, 1972.

That was just the beginning of the terrible tragedy that would mark their lives and shock the world.

The miracle of the Andes

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The weather affected visibility, which was already difficult due to the snow covered mountains.

Realizing too late that they were too low, the pilots crashed into one of the immense peaks of the Andes.

The plane broke in half — a horrendous scenario that seemed straight out of the darkest horror movies became a reality.

After the impact, some were thrown hundreds of yards away and others were half buried in the snow. Screams of pain and despair echoed from the wreckage of the plane.

After the plane crashed

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Many of the young survivors were in shock and some were looking for family members in the wreckage of the plane.

During their first night, the most injured succumbed to hypothermia and dangerous temperatures.

However, none of them would have imagined what they would have to do to survive.

They tried in a thousand ways to find a way to make the plane’s radio work, but they were unsuccessful.

The survivors waited more than two months to be rescued

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Authorities tried to retrieve the wreckage of the plane on several occasions, not knowing that there were survivors.

Realizing that no one would come looking for them, as the days passed, they had to figure out how to live. Faith, willpower and courage were key to staying strong.

The cold was overwhelming, and it felt as though thousands of sharp blades were cutting through their bodies.

The nights were the hardest, but still, they managed to find ways to stay alive.

They did the unthinkable to stay alive

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How far would you go to survive? To cling to life with all your might?

Initially, they had a few supplies. Searching through the luggage they found cookies, chocolate and some basic foods.

But after running out of food, they faced the deadliest challenge of all… starvation.

Therefore, they resorted to a something no one would have imagined.

What did the Uruguayan rugby team do for food?

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When the food ran out, the survivors began to eat the bodies of those who had died.

It was a terrifying and traumatic situation for everyone, particularly since the many of the deceased were friends and family members.

Some offered to do the dirty work, carrying the bodies to where no one could see them chopped up.

They cleaned the pieces and served them in small portions. It was said they used snow to disguise the flavor.

They made extreme expeditions in hopes of rescue

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During the 72 days in which they were stranded, the survivors made various expeditions.

They ultimately found the other part of the plane where they got supplies and even what was necessary to operate a radio.

However, it was on the last expedition, where the resilience of two young rugby players was really put to the test.

They walked for seven days, until they reached a stream in Chile, where they were found by a farmer who helped them.

The long-awaited rescue finally happened

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Many wonder why it took so long to rescue the survivors of the Andes flight.

According to statistics from that time, out of 34 accidents that occurred in the Andes, there were no survivors.

After finding help, 16 more people were rescued from that terrible plane crash.

The Uruguayan rugby team became the symbol of resilience, the miracle of the Andes.