Miracle In The Andes
72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home
Published on 17. May 2006
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-7528-7193-6 (ISBN)
Description
On 13 October 1972, the members of a top Uruguayan rugby team were flying over the Andes to play in Chile. Their plane crashed into a mountain and was stranded 11,000 feet up on an inhospitable glacier. Many died instantly in the crash, including the person sitting next to Nando, but others survived. They had almost no food or suitable equipment to withstand temperatures as low as -35C, and had to eat the bodies of their dead team-mates to survive. With the prospect only of a slow death, and no rescue likely, Nando and one of his friends set off on an impossible journey, walking and climbing for ten days in search of help. Finally, after 72 days, the 16 survivors were brought to safety. Parrado's unique viewpoint brings a new perspective to this remarkable story. His hugely inspirational tale shows how the strength of the human spirit, the close bond of friendship and faith can make you achieve the impossible. He explains how, once you realise that you must surely die, no risk becomes too great. Above all, Parrado came to understand that the opposite of death wasn't life, but love.
And it was love, for his waiting father and the mother and sister who died in the crash, that saw him home.
And it was love, for his waiting father and the mother and sister who died in the crash, that saw him home.
Reviews / Votes
'His story is awesome. It is also enthralling, inspirational and an impressive testimony to one man's unquenchable instinct for survival and to the amazing resilience of the human spirit' DAILY MAIL 'This book not only reveals the lengths to which humans will go to survive, it makes you question your own strengths and weaknesses. Would you have resorted to cannibalism? Would you have survived the nights? Would you have survived the deaths of so many friends? Would you have set off for help? Only a handful of people know the answers to these questions. Nando Parrado is one - and his dramatic story is moving, powerful and riveting' DAILY EXPRESS 'A moving story of love and faith' CHOICE 'an inspirational story of survival...a compelling account of unimaginable obstacles overcome' -- James Scudamore THE SPECTATOR 'A very moving account of the indomitability of the human spirit' DUBLIN EVENING HERALD 'This has got to be one of the most moving, horrific, incredible and inspirational stories I've ever read...What makes (it) special is that it is a first-hand account of Nando Parado who decided with his friend, Roberto, to climb for ten days over the 17,000 feet mountain at temperatures of 35c below freezing in search of help. They were wearing jeans, rugby boots, T-shirts and sweaters!' THE IRISH CATHOLIC 'Nando's story fills in the gaps left by the film and will truly amaze you' WOMAN'S OWN 'more than three decades later, this book of the book and the film, is an utterly compelling read. The searing monologue of a privileged youth, Fernando "Nando" Parrado, goes from unbelievable to unimaginable as the values of his cosy upbringing are shattered, replaced by a nightmare of imminent death and survival' SUNDAY EXPRESS 'This is Nando's incredible account of those 72 days of hell on a frozen mountain - and it's one that you'll find difficult to put down and impossible to forget' DAILY RECORD 'Captivating, moving and inspiring' ATLANTICA 'a truly inspirational tale' OUTLOOKMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
660 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7528-7193-6 (9780752871936)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Nando Parrado, after surviving the Andes plane crash, has gone on to become a successful businessman and television producer and presenter. He speaks five languages, is a hugely successful lecturer around the world, and in his spare time races motorcycles and stock cars.