The late Chilean mule driver, Sergio Catalan, has been gaining attention online recently. His life story has been intertwined with a tragic event that occurred back in 1972, thrusting him into the media spotlight.
Sergio Catalan’s life was forever changed on October 13, 1972, when he played a crucial role in a significant historical event now known as the Andes Tragedy and Miracle. On this day, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed in the unforgiving terrain of the Andes mountains. The charter flight had departed from Montevideo in Uruguay, heading towards Santiago in Chile the day before the catastrophic incident.
In the aftermath of the crash, it was Catalan who made the rescue of two survivors, Roberto Canessa and Fernando Parrado, possible, on December 21. The two men had managed to make their way from the crash site to a nearby river where they connected with Catalan after enduring 72 gruelling days in the wilderness.
Sergio Catalan’s actions earned him much praise and recognition, and his story has been featured in several documentaries, including ‘Alive: 20 Years Later.’ Recently, his character also made a brief appearance in the Netflix movie ‘The Snow Society,’ sparking renewed interest in him.
In terms of personal details, Sergio Catalan was born in 1929 in Black Bridge, Chile, with the full birth name of Sergio Hilario Catalán Martínez. Known to be a private man, not much is known about his family life.
Catalan was married to Virginia Toro, and together they raised nine children, details of whom are not readily available. Catalan passed away at the age of 91 on February 11, 2020.
His involvement in the Andes Plane crash rescue is a significant part of his story. Catalan was herding cattle with his sons near the Barroso River on December 21, 1972, when he noticed someone waving from the opposite bank. Unable to communicate verbally due to the noise of the river, Sergio tossed a notebook and pen to the waving individuals, who happened to be the crash survivors, Roberto Canessa and Fernando Parrado.
They managed to share details of the crash, prompting Catalan to respond with a gesture of kindness – four loaves of bread and a message of encouragement. This initiated the rescue operation, further solidifying Sergio Catalan’s legacy as a hero. He was laid to rest in the Parque San Fernando cemetery following his passing in 2020.
