Positivity: Pilot Released after He Is Heroically Rescued

It is a miracle that Australian John Haire survived the crash of his plane. But the miracle would have been impossible without the hero who rescued him:

Miracle pilot released
August 15, 2006 12:00am
THE pilot who miraculously survived crashing into a suburban Brisbane backyard was discharged from hospital yesterday.

Medical experts confirmed Goondiwindi farmer John Haire was expected to make a full recovery.
Mr Haire, 29, made headlines last week after he crashed into the Darra backyard of Brett McDonald.

Rescue workers hailed the survival of Mr Haire a miracle and Mr McDonald a hero after the homeowner pulled the pilot from his burning plane.

Mr Haire suffered burns to his arms, legs and lungs, and was placed in an induced coma for three days.

The pair were reunited in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital on Sunday.

“It was good to catch up with him, say g’day and see he’s well on the road to recovery,” Mr McDonald said.

“He had a very good sense of humour about it all.”

Mr McDonald had been inside his high-set home with his wife and young daughter when the stricken four-seater Cessna 182 crashed into his roof and landed in his backyard and burst into flames.

He immediately shrugged off the hero tag but Mr Haire has expressed his gratitude to his rescuer.

“I would like to express a very special thank you to Brett McDonald. His first words to me were ‘You are going to be OK, mate’, and I am,” he said.

In a prepared statement released yesterday, Mr Haire also recalled the moments before his crash.

“I was at 1000 feet when I experienced major engine failure, I sent out a distress call and looked around for somewhere to land,” he said.

“I attempted a landing in a park adjacent to the McDonalds’ home.

“I clipped a lower powerline and the plane swerved, hit the roof, slid, flipped on its back and fell into the garden.”

Mr Haire also thanked the emergency workers and staff at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital intensive care and burns unit.

The crash caused major damage to Mr McDonald’s house, forcing his family to stay in a motel until urgent repairs were completed.