MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY – Fernando Parrado, a survivor of the 1972 Andes plane crash, spent two months trapped in the mountains with fellow survivors after the aircraft went down. Parrado, 74, was traveling with family and friends at the time of the crash.
Fernando “Nando” Seler Parrado Dolgay, now 74, is one of the sixteen survivors of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. The flight was carrying members of an amateur rugby team and their family and friends to a match in Chile when it crashed in the Andes. Parrado and the other survivors endured 72 days without food, water, or proper clothing at an altitude of over 9,800 feet.
After waking up from a coma following the crash, Parrado discovered that his mother, younger sister, and two best friends had died in the accident. Alongside Roberto Canessa, he undertook a ten-day trek through the Andes mountains without protective clothing or climbing gear to seek help. They eventually stumbled upon a shepherd, Sergio Catalan Martinez, who sounded the alarm, leading to their rescue.
The Uruguayan Air Force flight 571, a chartered plane carrying the A Fairchild FH-227D, was en route from Montevideo, Uruguay to Santiago, Chile, when it crashed. The flight was carrying members of the Old Christians Club rugby team, their family, friends, and an additional passenger. The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of three crew members and nine passengers, with another 17 dying from injuries and suffocation due to an avalanche that occurred days later.
The survivors endured extreme hardships, including starvation, freezing temperatures, and avalanches, before finally being rescued. After being rescued, Parrado tried his hand at a career as a professional race car driver and eventually took over his father’s business. He also became a motivational speaker and co-authored a book about his experience in the Andes. Parrado’s story was portrayed in the 1993 film “Alive” and the 2023 film “Society of the Snow.”
In the years following his rescue, Parrado has become a well-known figure, using his experiences to motivate and inspire others. His resilience and survival have led to him being a source of hope and strength for many.