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Andes Plane Crash Survivor Alvaro Mangino Dies at 71
Alvaro Mangino, a survivor of the infamous 1972 Andes plane crash who resorted to cannibalism to endure the ordeal, has passed away at the age of 71. Mangino, one of the 16 individuals who lived through the catastrophic air disaster in the Andes mountains, succumbed to pneumonia on March 29. His story is a testament to human resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship following the crash of the Uruguayan rugby team’s aircraft.
The 1972 Andes Plane Crash and Grueling Survival
The ill-fated Flight 571, carrying members of Uruguay’s Old Christians rugby team, crash-landed at a staggering 3,600 meters in the remote, icy expanse of the Andes mountains. For 72 harrowing days, the survivors were stranded in freezing conditions. Initially relying on meager rations found on the wreckage, they were eventually confronted with the grim necessity of cannibalism, consuming the remains of those who perished to stay alive.
Mangino’s Role in Survival and Quiet Reflection
Despite suffering a broken leg in the crash, Mr. Mangino displayed remarkable fortitude. He played a crucial role in the group’s survival efforts, notably crawling across the harsh, icy terrain to melt snow, providing essential water for his fellow survivors. Mangino, who died shortly before his 72nd birthday, remained largely reticent about the horrific experiences he endured in the Andes.
‘Society of the Snow’ and Remembering the Ordeal
His experiences are documented in the book “Snow Society,” which served as the inspiration for the acclaimed Netflix film “Society of the Snow,” nominated for an Oscar. In “Snow Society,” Alvaro Mangino described the agonizing decision to engage in cannibalism as “the hardest decision I made in my life.”
Tributes and Legacy
J.A. Bayona, the director of the Netflix movie, paid tribute to Mangino on Instagram, noting his incredible resilience. Bayona wrote of Mangino’s broken leg sustained in the crash and his subsequent 72 days spent “crawling through the snow.” He further emphasized Mangino’s unwavering efforts to melt snow and provide water, even with his injury, remembering him for “never stopping working in the mountains.” Bayona concluded his tribute with a heartfelt, “I’m blessed to have known him.”
Life After Rescue and Enduring Remembrance
Following his rescue from the Andes, Alvaro Mangino relocated to Brazil for a number of years before returning to his native Uruguay. There, he built a life, becoming a father to four children and establishing a career as an air conditioning engineer.
The Infamy of the Andes Disaster
The Andes plane crash remains one of history’s most infamous air disasters, largely due to the extreme and brutal conditions faced by the survivors for over two months. Stranded for such an extended period in the sub-zero Andes environment, injured survivors succumbed to their wounds, and those who remained were compelled to construct makeshift shelters to withstand temperatures plummeting to -30 degrees Celsius.
The Necessity of Cannibalism for Survival
Compounding the harsh weather, food scarcity was a critical challenge. With no indigenous wildlife to hunt and minimal food supplies salvaged from the wreckage, the survivors were ultimately driven to cannibalism as a desperate measure for survival.
Robert Canessa’s Account
Robert Canessa, a rugby player who was on the flight, has previously recounted the agonizing reality they faced: “Our common goal was to survive, but what we lacked was food. We had long since run out of the meager pickings we’d found on the plane, and there was no vegetation or animal life to be found.” Canessa further described the grim physical toll of starvation: “After just a few days, we had the sensation that our own bodies were consuming themselves just to remain alive. Before long we would become too weak to recover from starvation. We knew the answer, but the answer was just too terrifying to contemplate.”
The Desperate Search for Help and Rescue
On the 61st day of their ordeal, Canessa and two other survivors embarked on a perilous expedition to seek assistance. After ten grueling days of trekking through the unforgiving wilderness, they finally encountered other individuals. Ultimately, on days 71 and 72, the remaining survivors were airlifted to safety by helicopter.
Annual Reunion of Survivors
To this day, the survivors of the Andes plane crash gather annually on December 22. This yearly meeting serves as a poignant reminder of the day they were rescued and a testament to the bonds forged in the face of unimaginable tragedy.