Monday, February 12, 2007
Miracle in the Andes
In 1972,an Uruguayan plane carrying 45 passengers crashed somewhere in the icy mountains of the Andes.Of the 45 passengers,most of them were members of the then Uruguayan rugby team which was on its way to play a match at Chile .And only 16 survived to tell their tale.
The 72- day ordeal that the 16 survivors went through in those icy mountains may read to some as horrifying and revolting.But Nando Parrado ,in his book "Miracle in the Andes",truly makes the tale one of the most inspiring ones I've read of late.
The author,who also turned out to be the leader of the pack ,later,describes,how they survived in sub zero conditions with barely any water or food.And,finally,when they ran out of the meager stock of food that they had,they had to resort to eating the flesh of their dead friends.
I don’t know if I would have had it in me to do that even if I were at the brink of death.After trying unsuccessfully to cross the Andes manytimes to find some help,finally ,the author and another member,Roberto decide to
cross the Andes.They trek the dangerous mountains for 10 days ,with barely any mountain gear ,food or water, to reach the nearest village and are finally rescued.
The book is an awe inspiring tale of the human will to survive against all odds. I realized,as I read the book ,that,Sometimes in life,you 've to lose what you have to appreciate what you really had.A must read,in my opinion.
The 72- day ordeal that the 16 survivors went through in those icy mountains may read to some as horrifying and revolting.But Nando Parrado ,in his book "Miracle in the Andes",truly makes the tale one of the most inspiring ones I've read of late.
The author,who also turned out to be the leader of the pack ,later,describes,how they survived in sub zero conditions with barely any water or food.And,finally,when they ran out of the meager stock of food that they had,they had to resort to eating the flesh of their dead friends.
I don’t know if I would have had it in me to do that even if I were at the brink of death.After trying unsuccessfully to cross the Andes manytimes to find some help,finally ,the author and another member,Roberto decide to
cross the Andes.They trek the dangerous mountains for 10 days ,with barely any mountain gear ,food or water, to reach the nearest village and are finally rescued.
The book is an awe inspiring tale of the human will to survive against all odds. I realized,as I read the book ,that,Sometimes in life,you 've to lose what you have to appreciate what you really had.A must read,in my opinion.
