Mike Hemmer Survives Plane Crash, Awakens to Stronger Faith
The True Story of Plane Crash Survivor Mike Hemmer
Photo Credit: David Joyner/istock
Text Size:
April 19, 2010
When Mike Hemmer awoke in an Amsterdam hospital during the Lenten season of 2009, he couldn't remember the accident that had knocked him out, but he was overcome with a sense of well-being, according to the Catholic News Agency.
Hemmer survived the crash that injured 86 and killed nine people on Ash Wednesday 2009, according to CatholicNewsAgency.com. If astute medics had not recognized the extent of Hemmer's injuries at the scene of the crash and airlifted him to the nearest hospital, the father-of-three wouldn't have survived, the news source reports.
In the year since the accident, Hemmer has recovered from a shattered arm, broken bones in both legs, a broken nose, a fractured eye socket and two crushed wisdom teeth, the website reports.
Hemmer's survival "is truly a miracle," his wife Shirley told the news source. "The other miracle is that he had no internal injuries, no spinal injuries and no brain injuries."
Though one's odds of being involved in a plane crash are slim, there are some precautions that travelers can take to enhance their chances of survival in case of an accident. Mac McLean, the Federal Aviation Administration investigator for cabin safety, recommends counting the number of rows between your seat and the nearest exit when you board the plane, according to ABC News.
After the accident, it is important to leave the scene as fast as possible because it can quickly become toxic or explosive.
The National Transportation Safety Board reports that there were 1,559 airplane accidents in U.S. civil aviation in 2008.
Those who have been in a plane crash, and are seeking support to live a full and thriving life, can contact the Crash Survivors Network, which offers information and resources.
