Dad survives plane crash into sea
A father-of-three from Northampton said he feels "lucky to be alive" after a light aircraft he was travelling in was forced to ditch in the North Sea.
Mark Andrew, aged 34, of Wootton Fields, and his pilot Gary Collings, aged 49, from Ditchingham in Norfolk were taken to hospital after the dramatic ending to their flight on Wednesday evening.
Mr Collingswas forced to bring the plane down three miles off Orford Ness, Suffolk after, it is believed, the aircraft's engine cut out.
After bailing out of the plane when it landed in the water, the men deployed their life raft and were not in the sea for long before a rescue helicopter winched them to safety.
Talking to Anglia News, Mr Andrew said: "What was going through my mind was 'what do I need to do to maximise my chances of survival'.
"I knew we were going to ditch in the sea and I needed tomake sure the life raft was ready.
"My initial thought was 'wow' that could have been a lot worse then I started to think about my friends and family and how I was going to let them know what had happened.
"I'm so grateful the rescue crew found us relatively safe and dry."
Both men were taken to Ipswich Hospital after the incident at about 6.30pm where they were described as "walking wounded" and discharged later in the evening.
Mr Andrew said: "I think it sunk in what had happened when we were in Ipswich Hospital as a shiver went down my spine but the next moment I'm thinking how lucky I am to be here."
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the pilot had done "exactly the right thing".
The spokesman said: "He called mayday and was able to give his position so he was able to be tracked on radar, he had a life raft on board, he was able to control his ditching to minimise the effect, and they lived to tell the tale."
Thames Coastguard watch manager Karen Paradise said: "The two people in the light aircraft are incredibly fortunate.
"As the result of the skills of the rescue helicopter crew this incident was brought to a swift and successful conclusion."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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