A very good friend of mine bought a one person helicopter as a toy. He has whatever license he needs to be able to fly the thing. A couple of weeks ago he flew over some sort of gathering in a public park. His wife and daughter were on the ground watching when the helicopter started spinning. The spin was followed by a crash and a fire in the wreckage. My friend was injured; in addition to some pretty bad burns he also sustained a brain injury and a spinal injury. He is still in ICU in a coma. All of my information is at third hand; all this took place in Ft Myers. Our friendship goes back a solid 30 years and I’m pretty shaken by the news.
Send some good thoughts to him if you have the time.
That’s the guy but they got his last name wrong; it should be Durden and not Purden. Also I had thought the accident was in Fort Myers; I even got the county wrong. As I said, I’m getting my information from another friend who gets her information from a relative of Don’s. His injuries are more severe than is reported----If my third hand info is correct.
About 12 years ago, my cousin’s husband did the exact same thing. Except when his one man helicopter crashed right in front of his wife and 9 month old baby and his best friend…he didn’t survive.
So his desire to play with cool toys resulted in a widow and a fatherless child…at some point it’s time to grow up.
This friend of mine busted his chops and made a ton of money, He bought a 53 foot sport fisherman and retired at 40. He had almost every toy any of us guys would want. I really hope he makes it.
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I hope the outcome for him is good. I can understand the appeal of personal aviation, but there are real risks. I hate to see or hear of anyone getting hurt.