It was Friday, and Larry and Donna Hicks, the 06 hour news coverage to their house to see more in Palos Verdes Estates outside Troy, Alabama. Hicks was a 52-year-old retired sergeant in the Marines, who currently works as a conservation enforcement officer for the state of Alabama. He came home from work half hour earlier, and he and Donna had spoken to a movie, but decided against it.
The TV news was just starting when she saw theWindow and saw a small plane to the shore of Lake Palos Verdes fly.
"I wonder if he knows about the power lines," said Larry, as the plane shuddered suddenly stopped, turned and went straight down into the lake. Hicks had been active through the back door as the plane in the water behind his wife and yelled, "Call 911, I'll see if I can help the pilot."
Fortunately, Larry's brother Wayne, a 14-left foot aluminum john boat with an electricTrolling Motor, was on the lake in preparation for the bass fishing that day, did not show up. Donna john boat call 911 and ran outside in time to see Larry commanding one in the direction of the Air-Cam conducted, was the 100 meters offshore.
Years ago, when Hicks Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan stationed, he had two-and-a-half months, spent part time in an intensive search and rescue program. A key was him because he thought that Hicks wouldgood at it because he was muscular and in the building weight. The course is designed for pilots who directed gone into the water with fixed wing or rotary aircraft to save. Hicks learned how pilots of aircraft that had crashed on its head. However, he remained in the telecommunications unit, and never had the opportunity to use his specialized training.
The engine of the Air-Cam was hot when the Palos Verdes Sea beat, and the plane was smoking in the water. HighOctane aviation fuel from a ruptured tank floated on the surface greasy make patterns. The rear half of the plane and stabbing a broken wing from the water. Hicks stepped from the boat on the wing and tied a line on the plane to keep the boat floating. The heavy smell of gas attacked his nostrils. It was only later that he was a risk of blowing up the plane thought.
The water was murky, and Hicks had difficulty in its orientation underwater. ThePlane had crashed in the middle of an underwater "stump fields," but luckily missed hitting the trees. The first time down, Hicks ran out of the air and was again forced to the surface without locating the pilot. The second time, he felt the man's neck in his hand. After a trip to the surface, he took a deep breath, and stood for the third time
Repeat the exercise on what to do until it becomes second nature - - Larry's military training took over: "Look pilot, extractPilot ... had been "Hicks tied to the pilots. Fortunately, one, he was recognized by the sense of training in the army, he spent his belt, and the pilot floated into his arms Hicks swam to the surface to draw people to him, .. the pilot had stab bone from his legs and his feet were turned in the wrong direction.
The man was bleeding from the nose and mouth and was not breathing. He had drowned. The police arrived on the shores of Lake Troy from now on. Larry shoutedOfficers: "He's not breathing," and he heard one cop say to another: "He's dead."
Hicks pulled the man on the wing, which was stuck above the water and place a custom Heimlich maneuver on his ribs and pulled the water from his lungs, then began CPR changed. The inert nature of water and coughed blood, then the fifth breath, began to breathe. "I breathe again," Hicks shouted to the emergency department of the bank.
Hicks grabbed the wingthe plane with the left hand, lying on his back in the water, the support of the pilots on his chest with his right arm to keep his head above water. He felt a tingling sensation of jet fuel, which worsened until he was in great pain. He was later the top layer of his skin burned.
The rescue unit took an additional boat, the pilot on board and floated him to shore. Larry tries to follow the four members of the rescue team as they went out of, But his legs gave way. He and the pilot were transported to the hospital Troy.
While Hicks has been treated for petrol burns on his torso, he heard the helicopter airlifted the pilot arrived at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham. After a decontamination shower, Hicks has been released.
Word was almost immediately that a light aircraft had crashed, driven by the famous Jack Roush, NASCAR Winston Cup car owner since 1988. An airplane fan,Roush's friends had arranged for him to the Air-Cam, a specialized aircraft specifically designed for digital photography, as a birthday gift to fly.
Roush was the first time on a ventilator, with a trauma-team him. He had inhaled water and petrol and closed head injuries, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, fractures, broken connection suffered from his left leg and ankle. He did not remember anything from the time of the accident until he awoke in the hospital this weekend.
Amazingenough, six days after the accident, Roush has been running his business by telephone from his hospital bed. On Sunday, he had to be arranged for Larry and Donna in a private jet to Birmingham, Alabama, flew out to visit him.
Six weeks later, Roush piloted a plane from his hometown of Michigan and his team limped on crutches at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware, the monitoring of four Winston Cup car. Larry and Donna were at his side.
Larry Hicks has no doubtthat a higher power at work in an incredible rescue Jack Roush's. If the Air-Cam, the power lines instead of the supporting wires as it hit, the plane would have gone up in flames. Would it collapsed to the ground or a tree trunk in the underwater area where he landed, Roush would have immediately slain. As Larry and Donna, a film that night, because they had discussed, or would have been just another part of the house, she had not seen the planes downJack Roush and was deceased. If Wayne Hicks would not leave john boat ready to go, there was no escape.
But most of all, Hicks was one of a small percentage of the population with the necessary expertise for a pilot to survive in an upside-down aircraft from a watery grave. And another thing was necessary, Jack's life, which means that Hicks to save a man of action who did not hesitate to endanger the purpose is to save the life of a stranger.
Epilogue
LarryHicks has numerous awards for his heroic rescue of Jack Roush, including the Marine Corps Medal of Heroism, recognized by the Carnegie Award for heroism by the Carnegie Foundation, the Kiwanis International Robert P. Connally medal for valor and the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Medal for heroism. The history of salvation appeared in People magazine, and Larry and Jack were on the cover of NASCAR Illustrated.
Larry shows are very proud that he lived up to theUnited States Marine Corps Code of serving his country with honor, courage, selfless service and dedication.
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