It was Fernando Parrado (center) who told Roberto Canessa that they needed to take the chance and try to hike out of the mountains, which they did. From the start, his survival had been accidental: He'd swapped seats with a friend who wanted to look out the window, and that friend died on impact.
On the 50th anniversary of the ordeal, he recalled to EuroNews: "In civilization, I might have broken down in a way that I wouldn't have been able to get up, but I didn't have time for that. ... I almost panicked, but I remembered that panic kills you, and fear saves you." Parrado had a lot to live for: In the years after he directed rescuers to his friends, he had a short stint as a professional race car driver, and has made countless appearances as a motivational speaker. He also co-wrote "Miracle in the Andes," and served as a consultant on "Alive," the movie based on the crash.
Parrado also took over the family business: His mother and sister died in that ill-fated crash, and he cited his father as one of the motivators that kept him putting one foot in front of the other in a bid to get home. He married, had two children, and penned this important life lesson: "I have learned that moments do not repeat themselves, but the next time I am dying I know that I will remember: my affections and love, not my businesses, cars, contracts, bank loans, earnings, emails, and airports."
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