A victim in a Michigan plane crash died while saving his eldest daughter’s life, a family friend and business partner said.
According to the reports, Mike Perdue, one of four people who died in a light-commuter plane crash near Beaver Island Saturday, shielded his daughter during it.
“He cradled her in his arms,” Wojan said. “She doesn’t remember anything, except for her daddy squeezing her so hard.”
The 11-year-old is the sole survivor.
All of her injuries were on the opposite side of where her dad was sitting in the plane, said Wojan, who has been in close contact with Perdue’s wife since the accident.
Wojan said Perdue’s wife “wanted to be sure that everyone knew who he was and how he gave his life for his daughter,”. The couple has four children.
The girl, who remains hospitalized, suffered several fractures and has undergone two surgeries but none of her injuries are life-threatening, Wojan added.
It was gathered two of the deceased, Kate Leese and Adam Kendall, were taking their dogs to the vet in the plane, a family member. Both animals died in the crash, authorities said over the weekend.
Charlevoix County Sheriff Lieutenant William Church said the pilot was the fourth victim. He has not been identified.
According to the post on media Leese and Kendall had recently moved to Beaver Island, authorities said. They were working to establish a vineyard on the small Upper Michigan island in the middle of Lake Michigan.
In recent Instagram posts, the couple shared photos of their dogs and flights over the island.
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