LifeNet helicopter crash - northern missouri

[Just Plain Ruff]

My first partner in EMS, Randy Bever RN was killed in a air ambulance crash last thursday, near Mosby Missouri.

He was killed as well as the flight paramedic, the pilot and the unidentified patient.

The news reports that the pilot radioed that he was going for fuel at a small airport and that was the last report from the helicopter.

The next information they were getting was 911 calls regarding a helicopter crash near the airport.

All were killed on impact.

All in our extended EMS family are saddened by this loss of life. FAA investigators are working the crash.

funeral for Randy will be this thursday at 11am I believe or it might be noon and funeral for the flight medic is at 10 am the same date.

Ruff

[paramedicmike]

Jesus, Ruff. My condolences to you and the friends and families of everyone killed.

This just sucks.

[Just Plain Ruff]

Jesus, Ruff. My condolences to you and the friends and families of everyone killed.

This just sucks.

Very clear day, no inclement weather. Rumors are flying, some saying that the pilot just let it run out of gas, others saying that it had a leak. I keep telling those people to shut up and let the investigation run it's course, they are only fueling the fire.

Questions as to whether this person really did require a helicopter to transport or could ground have been better?

NOne of those will be answered until the investigation is over.

I'm not going to make it to the funerals but there is a statewide memorial happening this friday at 10am. I'm trying to get the info on it now. It will be at a church north of the hospital in St. Joseph MO.

I will be going.

[paramedicmike]

I'm glad you're holding off and not feeding the speculation. Looking at the pictures of the aircraft I have a hard time with the no fuel theory. But I don't know what happened other than the end result.

The NTSB will do their investigation and a cause will be determined. Until then, rumors and speculation, as you know all too well at this point, do nothing but create more problems.

Hang tough, my friend.

[Just Plain Ruff]

I'm glad you're holding off and not feeding the speculation. Looking at the pictures of the aircraft I have a hard time with the no fuel theory. But I don't know what happened other than the end result.

The NTSB will do their investigation and a cause will be determined. Until then, rumors and speculation, as you know all too well at this point, do nothing but create more problems.

Hang tough, my friend.

I just tell the rumor mongers to stop. But as with any crash of this magnitude, there is a need to try to explain why their friends died and rumors take hold and sometimes become gospel and it's hard to reverse them once entrenched.

Just like the WACO rumors huh?

[paramedicmike]

Just like *any* rumor... including Waco.

[Just Plain Ruff]

Just like *any* rumor... including Waco.

True Dat, Mike, True dat.

Take care.

[Kaisu]

I am saddened by this news. My thoughts and prayers for family and friends.

[island emt]

Sorry for your loss Ruff.

Condolences to all the family and friends.

[tniuqs]

Dear Ruff:

I am so very sorry for your loss.

This was part of my Fathers eulogy ... I hope it helps, even if just a bit.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr