Fernando Parrado, ‘Snow Society’ (Netflix) plane crash survivor, credits rescue to his devotion to the Virgin Mary

One of the facts that attracts the most attention the tragedy of the Andesas the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in the Andes mountain range in 1972 is known, is that most of the survivors are very devoted to Catholicism.

This was remembered in a recent drama film Snow companywho arrived at the platform Netflix at the beginning of the month, which was inspired by an unprecedented plane crash. The title also has two Oscar nominations, for best international film and for makeup and hair.

One of the survivors is Fernando (Nando) Parrado, who takes part in the production as a family member at the airport. Nando was one of two victims (Roberto Canessa being the other) who made the 60-kilometer trip to seek help. Their efforts paid off when they found mule hunter Sergio Catalán, who helped them rescue their companions 72 days after the accident.

In the documentary Medjugorje: the film In 2021, Fernando shared his special relationship with the Virgin Mary, who, according to him, accompanied him in the midst of the tragedy, as well as on the journey of seeking help, which lasted for ten days amid more troubles and uncertainties.

“I think my devotion to the Virgin began in the Andes mountain range, I felt every time I wanted to start praying, that I was praying Hail Marys, not the Lord’s Prayer.” Then I felt much more united with the Virgin, I talked with her, I prayed with her and asked her for things, to make this situation very difficult, but not impossible,” recalled the now 71-year-old Uruguayan businessman and television presenter .

“Something always leads me to Virgo. When we started that last expedition, from which there was no return, with Roberto Canessa, in search of salvation, the only chance, the only chance we had to survive, was to try to get somewhere.”

Parrado says that when asked how many rosaries he prayed with Roberto during that walk, he replied: “Well, I think I prayed them alone, and I don’t know if they were rosaries, but they were Hail Marys that were prayed to the Virgin.” , united prayer. behind the other, that is, I estimate that I must have prayed thousands and thousands of Hail Marys during those ten days.” (AND)