01/24/2025
In 2005, Ricardo () found the coat and wallet of Eduardo Strauch (), one of the 16 survivors of the 1972 plane crash made famous in the book and movie, Alive! There’s also a new Netflix movie out about the tragedy called “Society of the Snow.” Highly recommended; it’s beautifully made.
20 years later, here we are at 14,000 feet, in the gully, near to where Ricardo found the coat which changed his and Eduardo’s lives. That discovery led to decades of trips, of them bringing people to the memorial site, lower down on the glacier, and sharing the story of survival. It led to Eduardo writing his own account of the ordeal called “Out of the Silence: After the Crash.” It’s led to multiple documentary features.
It was a powerful and moving experience being up there, envisioning the fuselage barreling down the slope back in 1972. This is such a powerful story - one of friendship, love, leadership and resilience. It’s a testament to the human spirit and what is possible. It’s a reminder to take action and never lose hope, even in adverse and seemingly impossible situations. We, as a society, are sure to confront many of these in the years ahead. But we need to keep moving forward, as communities, with love leading the way. If we encounter dark times, may this story serve as a good reminder of what is possible when good people take action. “There is no greater love than that which gives one’s life for one’s friends.” ❤️
