00;00;00;00 – 00;00;16;13
Radio Nacional Chile News in 1972 (segment radio news in Spanish)
Helicópteros de la fuerza aérea, que evitaron peligrosas turbulencias llegaron hasta San Fernando con los ocho resucitados…
00;00;16;15 – 00;00;30;13
ABC US – News in 1972 (segment TV news)
We have some of what very nearly amounts to a real miracle. Survivors of a plane crash in the Chilean Andes. The plane went down ten weeks ago. The 45 people aboard were given up for dead.
00;00;30;16 – 00;00;51;04
Fernando Gaggero (narration)
December 1972 is still a vivid memory from my childhood in Montevideo, Uruguay. The plane was a chartered flight from the Uruguayan Air Force, carrying a rugby team of young players and their supporters from Montevideo.
Radio Nacional Chile News in 1972 (radio interview with Fernando Parrado in Spanish)
Fernando Parrado, cuéntanos como ocurrió el accidente… bueno yo, del momento del accidente tengo…
00;00;51;06 – 00;01;23;10
Fernando Gaggero (narration)
Two survivors, Fernando Parrado and Roberto Canessa, reemerged from the mountains after 72 days of the crash. They had made a 55 kilometer trek looking for help, and they finally found it in Chile, where the helicopter rescue was being coordinated.
Canessa, Televisión Nacional, muy brevemente antes de subir al avión… agradecimiento, agradecimiento, felicidad de volver al hogar…
00;01;23;12 – 00;01;37;16
Fernando Gaggero (narration)
Nando, Roberto and 14 others then became a world story of survival beyond anyone’s imagination.
00;01;37;18 – 00;01;47;05
Fernando Gaggero (narration)
Travel time half a century. And the Andes survivors share their insights across the globe.
00;01;47;08 – 00;02;11;10
Fernando Gaggero (narration)
Books and movies have also tried to describe the indescribable from the accident. The living hell after the crash. The injuries. Witnessing the deaths of family and friends. The 72 days of isolation in freezing temperatures, and getting the news that the world has given up on you, only ten days after the crash.
00;02;11;12 – 00;02;39;06
Fernando Gaggero (narration)
And all of this with the immensity of Los Andes standing between them and the rest of the world.
So how does a group of young people in their 20s suddenly find the psychological strength to overcome such extreme challenges, and press on to realize the extraordinary?… Daniel Fernandez Strauch
Daniel Fernandez Strauch in Spanish (interview segment with Uruguayan Media)
Milagro para mí no es. Milagro hubiera sido que se hubiera abierto el cielo y nos hubieran sacado a todos…
00;02;39;09 – 00;02;49;09
Fernando Gaggero (narration – translation)
To me, it wasn’t a miracle. A miracle would have been if the heavens had opened and they had taken all of us out.
00;02;49;12 – 00;02;54;15
Fernando Gaggero (narration)
Roberto Canessa
00;02;54;18 – 00;03;23;29
Roberto Canessa in Spanish (interview segment with Uruguayan Media)
Un día a nosotros nos dijeron se terminó la búsqueda, tenés que valerte por vos mismo. Y creo que el ser humano tiene esa potencialidad impresionante.
Fernando Gaggero (narration – translation)
One day we were told that the search was over and we had to stand on our own feet. I believe the human being has that massive potential. When we say, I feel bad, I feel terrible. Do you really have problems? or you have difficulties? A problem is if you are told you are going to die in three months, you have where to eat? where to sleep? Don’t wait for the plane to crash to realize how well you are already doing.
00;03;31;07 – 00;03;59;16
Fernando Gaggero (narration)
As we seem conditioned to always look outside for the extraordinary, experiences like the plane crash in Los Andes, are reminders that the extraordinary has always been within ourselves.
If you would like to know more about how they uncovered their inner potential, join me in the next episode of reflections from Los Andes plane crash. I’m Fernando, from the Extraordinary People podcast.
00;03;59;18 – 00;04;14;05
Fernando Gaggero
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