Tragedy of the Andes: The emotional signal a survivor received during his last visit to the mountain

Álvaro Manginosurvivor of the tragedy in the Andes, shared a post on Instagram accompanied by a message that moved tens of thousands of people both on that social network and on X.

The topic continues to be in vogue in the days preceding the delivery of the Oscars 2024 in which The Snow Society, the film that tells the events of the tragedy, will compete for the foreign prize.

Mangino’s photo was taken at base camp after the 70-year-old climbed to the crash site for the last time. In the background, behind him, you can see a strange “double rainbow”.

“Once we got out and arrived at the camp where we spent the night, the sky gave us a double rainbow. I like to think it was a sign from my friends who remained in the mountains that they were happy that we had come to visit them. “I already knew it was the last time I was going up and saying goodbye,” Mangino wrote.

Regarding the repeated consultations on his health, the man thanked “everyone for their attention” and explained: “I have some health problems because I had pneumonia in January and it takes longer to recover my lung capacity. That’s why you see me with the help of oxygen in some photos and interviews. But I’m fine and I have the desire to move forward.”

Juan Perez del Castillohis godson who was with him that day in the Andes, said that the day before, when they were at the “cross” and were about to begin the descent, something fantastic happened when his godfather said goodbye to the mountain forever.

The moment he told her he was no longer going, “within minutes the weather changed dramatically. It started drizzling, gusty winds and suddenly a big avalanche in front of us,” Del Castillo said.

And he added: “The mountain reacted with fury to that desperation and Álvaro felt ill that night. He had to use oxygen. And the next day they made peace with the mountain again, that comfort came out, Álvaro is improved and that picture shows it all!”

Who is Álvaro Mangino in The Snow Society?

In recent months the tragedy has been on everyone’s lips again due to the premiere of the film JA Bayona The snow society.

The Spanish director’s film has just won the Goya and is nominated for the 2024 Oscars in the Film category Best foreign language film AND Best makeup/hairstyle.

In that film, which tells the tragedy of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 on 13 October 1972, Álvaro Mangino is represented by the actor Juan Caruso.

Mangino was 19 when the plane crashed into the mountain range. Due to the impact, Álvaro broke his leg. He and the other 15 survivors spent 72 days in the snow.