Pablo Vierci

In 1972, the 19 year old author- a medical student and rugby player- was involved in a plane crash in the Andes. Surrounded by dead and dying, those uninjured had to strive to keep going until rescue came, and resorted through necessity to eating the bodies of their dead friends (Canessa, rightly, doesnt dwell on this, but the sense of horror is there.)
But as they heard on the radio that the search had been abandoned, Canessa and an associate set out on a desperate 60 mile hike to find civilization...
The first half of the book covers the two-month long Andean incident., Canessa's memories interspersed by thoughts on his childhood and family; and by accounts from his father, girlfriend and the unsuccessful rescue pilot as they waited ...
In the second half, Canessa looks back on his subsequent career as cardiolodist to seriouslyy ill infants, finding links between the desperate focus on preserving life...both in the mountains and in the hospital.
An inspiring and spiritual work that manages to avoid any hint of schmaltz.… (mais)