I Had to Survive: How a Plane Crash in the Andes Inspired My Calling to Save Lives

I read this book during a long weekend. I Had not been so absorbed in reading for years. An incredible story.

What a great read! Dr Canessa's accounting of his survival under brutal conditions and his life well led in it's aftermath...

In my opinion the best to worst Andes Crash books, of the ones I have read:1. Alive 1974 by Piers Paul Read. The ultimate best in how it is written.2. Nando's book Miracle in the Andes. Add some new perspective for the original Alive book. Helps that Nando is a writer/presenter by profession, which is lacking in the two other books below.3. Canessa's book I Had To Survive. First 2/3 is fairly good because it focuses on the events in the Andes including the trek to get help. Canessa adds some new perspective on the events versus Nando. Last 1/3 of the book is more focused on his medical career after the crash. Sorry Mr Canessa.. but this part is not nearly as interesting as the crash.4. Eduardo Strauch book Out of the Silence. Offers virtually nothing new about the Andes event. We already know almost everything that he writes about. He was not part of the trek to find help so he can't offer any new perspective there. He also gets a little bit too philosophical for my taste.

In October, 1972, a chartered Uruguayan Army flight left Montevideo, Uruguay for Santiago, Chile, with passengers traveling to play in a rugby match. The flight, which carried 45 crew and passengers, crashed while flying through a pass in the Andes Mountains. Of the 45, twelve died immediately, and a number died of injuries and from an avalanche later. The survivors, all rugby players and an older man, numbered 16 by the time they were rescued in late December after two intrepid young men, Roberto Canessa - a 19 year old medical student - and Fernando Parrado, set out to walk to civilization. After 8 wrenching days walking through the mountains in the direction of what they thought was help, Canessa and Parrado were found by two shepherds. They were able to tell their rescuers where the others were and they were all airlifted to safety. It was there, then, in the midst of the joyous reunions with their families, that the world began asking questions. Questions like what the 16 ate to survive their mountainous captivity? Answers like pieces of meat from the bodies of those who died in the crash. The "world" was shocked. But what would you have done if faced with the same situation?One of the young men who had made that long, arduous walk in freezing conditions has written a book describing the horror he and the others experienced and how they had the will to survive. Roberto Canessa, who became a world-famous pediatric heart surgeon, tells the story in his book, "I Had to Survive: How a Plane Crash in the Andes Inspired my Calling to Save Lives", and it's a surprising one. i expected religious belief to be the reason for his endurance, but, in fact, it was love for both his family and his girlfriend, and later wife, Laura. He wanted to survive for them, and for what he felt he could contribute to the world if he did. His knowledge of the basics of medicine helped after the plane crash, but Canessa makes it clear that everyone pitched in to help, much as they had worked together as a rugby team. Even the decision to eat from the bodies of their dead was made as a group, and several said they hoped their bodies would help save others if they died.The book is written in Roberto Canessa's voice, but other people's reminisces are added to the text. The book is mostly about the plane crash, but there is a large part about the young patients who had come to Roberto Canessa, either in utero or shortly after birth, with heart problems he was able to fix. Most of the patients survived, but some didn't. Canessa is open about those who didn't survive.The reader of a memoir usually doesn't know how much to "trust" in the telling of a life by the memoir writer. Dr Canessa's writing seems to be heartfelt and is the story of a life-changing event that I assume is correct in how he saw it and lived it.

I have been fascinated with the story of the Andes Plane Survivors ever since Alive came out. My friends and I attended the showing which was sold out here and we sat in the aisle due to a lack of seats and were completely transfixed by the story told to us. Sure, the cannibalism is part of what got 13 year old me's attention but mostly it was how they persevered and lived!I've read all of the other stories - Alive and Nando's book - but Dr. Canessa's may be my favorite. He had a good balance of the story about what happened on the mountain partnered with the aftermath and what his life is like today. It's amazing to think how close he was every day to not surviving and how many lives he has saved due to those small strokes of luck.If you are into amazing stories of hope, heroism and survival against all odds I highly recommend it! Even if you're just into medical books this may line up as well due to his stories about the "after" events and what he's done to advance medicine.Truly a fascinating story and man. It's refreshing to read about good humans doing good things.

What an inspiring story. Alive tells the story of the plane crash, the efforts to survive, the trek out of the mountains, and the rescue. Canessa tells of these as well, but then illustrates how this horrendous experience at age 19--lacking food, clothes, a home, and "even a proper place to die"--inspired the rest of his life.

Thrilling story

Superbly written, and superbly translated. I have followed the 1972 incident very closely ever since its occurrence, seen all the films and documentaries, read all the books, and listened to any discussion available by any of the members of this incredible incident and its aftermath. I am simply in awe of all those involved. Nando Parrado has elected to take his philosophy to speaking engagements, not to promote himself, but to promote positive thinking and a will to live for others. Dr. Canessa has elected to dedicate his life to the caring of the unborn with defects, in order that they may have a chance at life. How could one possibly not have highest respect for these two. I applaud.

I had to read this after I watched The Snow Society. Such an inspiring story! I couldn’t put it down.

Lo compré tras ver La sociedad de la nieve, y para profundizar más en esta increíble historia a través de uno de sus principales protagonistas. Pues no sólo me ha encantado su narrración al respecto, si no que me ha sorprendido muy gratamente lo que tiene que ver con su vida posterior, describiéndonos una persona volcada en ayudar a los demás, a la que coges cariño y que su sola existencia hacen a este planeta un poco mejor.

If you wanna watch Alive the movie, you can but you can read this book too cause it’s an other side of the 1972 plane crash. And how this man survivre to this plane crash in helping others.

Nice story.. inspiring

Der Memoir von Roberto Canessa ist unglaublich interessant. Canessa ist einer der 16 Überlebenden des Uruguayan Air Force Flug 571, der 1972 in den Anden abgestürzt ist. Damals noch Medizinstudent, erzählt Canessa auf ehrliche und fesselnde Art über die Geschehnisse der damaligen Zeit und wie er und 15 andere schlussendlich Wochenlang in den Anden ausharrten bis er und sein Kollege und Freund Nando Parrado schließlich mit letzter Kraft Hilfe holten. Er beschreibt die Rettung, was in ihnen damals vorging sowie das ganze aus Sicht seiner Eltern und damaligen Freundin/heutigen Frau. Der zweite Teil des Buches beschreibt die Zeit seit dem Absturz. Das weitere Medizinstudium und die Zeit als Arzt, die Ausbildung als Pädiatrischer Kardiologe und schließlich verschiedene Patienten die ihm im Gedächtnis geblieben sind. Bis zum Schluss scheint alles was Canessa macht durch den Absturz motiviert. Er hat seitdem das tiefe Gefühl, seinen sozusagen "für ihn" verstorbenen Kollegen des Rugby Teams und deren Angehörigen beweisen zu müssen, dass diese nicht umsonst gestorben sind.Ergreifende Beschreibung, die ich allen empfehlen kann, die in ihrem Leben durch eine harte Zeit gehen und allen, die den Sinn im Leben suchen. Auch Medizinern ist dieses Buch zu empfehlen.