Stranded

It is hard to describe the excitement of these young rugby players, some rich and pampered, who were getting a chance to get away for a long weekend and spread their wings. They were full of anticipation of things to come.

In a short time, they experienced their first snow. The only problem was that they were chest deep in it on top of a mountain with dead bodies all around them.

But, the crash wasn't the end of it. After settling down to survive, they were caught in an avalanche that took eight more. It was harder to eat the bodies of their friends. They were trapped in the fuselage and couldn't get to the bodies outside. They had to use the bodies that were in there with them.

The amazing journey of those sent to find help was unbelievable. Without experience or equipment, they travelled for eight days over the mountains.

The story is told 30 years later by the 16 survivors and they make the reenactments come alive with their stories.

It is not a gruesome tale. They looked at what they were doing as something spiritual. The fact that they maintained calm and acted as a group is a powerful humanistic comment on men.