Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, carrying 45 passengers, including a rugby team, crashed in the Andes on October 13, 1972, after encountering severe weather. The survivors faced unimaginable conditions high in the mountains, with rescue operations hindered by rough terrain and bad weather. As days turned into weeks without rescue, the situation grew dire. With limited food supplies and the harsh elements taking their toll, the survivors were forced to make an agonizing choice; they turned to cannibalism, consuming the bodies of deceased passengers to stay alive.

As snow and cold continued to besiege them, the group developed a community bond, working together to keep spirits up while also dealing with the psychological trauma of their circumstances. Fueled by a will to survive, the group relied on their resourcefulness, fashioning makeshift shelters, and attempting to signal for help with limited success. After nearly 11 weeks, two of the survivors undertook a treacherous trek across the mountains in search of help, ultimately encountering a Chilean shepherd who alerted authorities to the remaining survivors.

On December 23, 1972, a rescue team managed to reach the crash site, bringing relief and safety to the 16 survivors. Their journey home marked the end of a harrowing saga that would become both a tale of survival and ethical debate about the extent to which individuals will go to preserve life.