Father’s final heroic act saves his daughter
A US man has been remembered as a hero after he died saving his daughter’s life in a plane crash.
Mike Perdue was one of four people who perished after a light plane crashed near Michigan’s Beaver Island over the weekend.
His daughter, 11-year-old Laney, was the sole survivor of the crash.
“He cradled her in his arms,” family friend Ryan Wojan said.
“She doesn’t remember anything, except for her daddy squeezing her so hard.
“He saved her life… he died a hero.”
Image: NBC / UpNorthLive
Laney has undergone two surgeries so far and is expected to recover after suffering multiple fractures during the crash.
Mr Wojan added that all of her injuries occurred on the opposite side of where her dad had been sitting in the plane.
He and Mr Perdue were meeting on the island for opening day of firearm deer season, with the Perdue’s flying on the same plane he had three hours earlier.
Laney had joined her dad on the way to meet a family friend for the weekend.
Mr Wojan said his friend’s two passions were his family - including his wife and four kids - and his faith.
Image: GoFundMe
“He’s taken his girls out hunting and fishing but there’s a special bond between a dad and his sons,” Mr Wojan said.
“And he was very much looking forward to getting his kids involved with hunting and fishing and I feel a great weight to be a part of that for them going forward.”
A fundraiser started for the Perdue family to help them pay for funeral costs has received over $USD 109,000 ($AUD 149,000 or $NZD 156,000) in donations.
The other victims of the crash included Kate Leese and Adam Kendall, who were travelling in the plane to take their dogs to the vet.
The dogs also died in the crash.
“Kate and Adam were meant for each other. They lived 20 lives in the time they knew each other. Kate was larger than life,” Kate’s sister, Amanda Leese, said.
“She wanted to experience the world. She wanted to taste it. She wanted to explore it and Adam was right there with her.”
The pilot was the fourth victim of the crash and remains unidentified.
Investigations are being conducted to determine the cause of the crash.
Image: NBC / UpNorthLive