Stranded, freezing, and starving to death in the middle of nowhere, 16 survivors endure a horrific 72-day odyssey - and struggle with the ultimate taboo. Their incredible story is re-told in...

I AM ALIVE: SURVIVING THE ANDES PLANE CRASH Premieres on Wednesday, October 20 at 9pm ET on HISTORY

New York, October 4, 2010 - Throughout history, the most harrowing stories of human survival - like that of the Donner Party in the 1840's - have involved people whose only means of staying alive was to consume the deceased around them. On Friday the 13th of October, 1972, just such a story began when a charter plane carrying 45 rugby team members crashed in the remote Andes Mountains. For 72 days, the world thought they were dead. But what 16 survivors endured was far worse than death, driven to eat their dead friends and teammates in their struggle for life, an act which would ultimately spark sensational, worldwide headlines.

I AM ALIVE: SURVIVING THE ANDES PLANE CRASH, a new 2-hour special premiering Wednesday, October 20 at 9pm ET on HISTORY, recounts one of the most historic human survival stories of all time through the eyes of Nando Parrado (bestselling author of Miracle in the Andes) - who lost his mother and sister in the crash and led a death-defying expedition to save himself and the others.

Nando's simple, yet powerful and evocative storytelling will allow viewers to experience the nearly two and a half months of heroism and tragedy through the vivid memories of a man who lived it. Several other survivors also lend their unique perspectives on the tragedy.

I AM ALIVE will immerse viewers into this tragic story through incredible live-action recreations of the snowbound crash site including a meticulous reconstruction of the wrecked plane fuselage that served as the survivors' only refuge, as well as never-before-seen transcripts of the doomed flight. In addition, new, high-resolution imagery of photos shot by the survivors throughout their ordeal, and rarely seen footage of the crash site and rescue will enhance the first-person narration, while blended CGI/live action sequences provide a visceral and terrifying experience of the crash itself, and the amazing struggle for survival that followed.

I AM ALIVE: SURVIVING THE ANDES PLANE CRASH is produced for HISTORY by AMS Pictures. Executive Producer for HISTORY is Charles Nordlander. Andy Streitfeld is Executive Producer for AMS Pictures.

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