Miracle In The Andes - Blog Posts

Rest in peace❤️❤️

Que su alma descanse en paz 💛

Today, the 29th of March, 2025, Alvaro Mangino passed away at the age of 71, one day shy of turning 72 on his birthday, March 30th.

Alvaro was 19 years old when Flight 571 crashed in the Andes mountains. Despite having a broken leg and initially only knowing Marcelo Pérez del Castillo, Alvaro survived 72 days in some of the harshest conditions known to man. He served the group by helping to cut and prepare rations, and became known among the survivors for constantly talking about his girlfriend, Margarita.

Alvaro went on to marry Margarita after the rescue, and the couple had 50 happy years of marriage with their children and grandchildren. Alvaro continued to show the same indomitable spirit at home that he showed on the mountain, including making a final trek to the crash site in 2024 despite being on supplemental oxygen at the time.

Alvaro, I feel so privileged to have known your story, and your strength and spirit inspires me to push on through every challenge I encounter. I hope you're reunited with Marcelo, Javier and Coche, and you're having the biggest party up in heaven 🧡