From Others
June 6
Janet Olszewski, director, Michigan Department of Community Health issued the following statement on the recent tragedy surrounding the University of Michigan Survival Flight / Transplant Team:
“On behalf of the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), all of us are stunned and devastated at the loss of six members of Survival Flight / Transplant Team who were performing a critical and fundamental public health care service for some of the state’s most vulnerable and in need citizens.”
“While the sorrow is shared by everyone touched by this tragic development, the sacrifice of the individuals associated with this life saving University of Michigan program should never be forgotten. Rather, their terrible loss and sacrifice should spur those across the state who are considering organ donation to do their part to ensure that future lives can be spared.”
“From the entire MDCH staff, we extend our deepest and most profound sympathy to the victims’ families, the University of Michigan health system, and the university’s extended family.”
June 5
Tom Beyersdorf, executive director of Gift of Life Michigan, issued the following statement regarding the crash of the University of Michigan Health System Survival Flight / Transplant Team air ambulance:
“This is a tragedy. These were our colleagues in the organ donation and transplant community. Every day they went to work, and every time they boarded a plane, it was with one goal in mind: To save someone’s life. Many of us at Gift of Life Michigan had the honor of working directly with these members of the University of Michigan transplant team. All of us were united in the desire to give new life to others. We mourn their loss and offer our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends. Our thoughts and prayers also extend to the donor family and transplant candidate whose operation was suspended due to this tragedy.”
To learn more about organ donation and how you can become an organ donor, visit Gift of Life Michigan.
June 5
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued the following statement on the University of Michigan Survival Flight / Transplant Team tragedy:
“This is a heartbreaking day for the University of Michigan community and for the entire state of Michigan. These six members of Survival Flight / Transplant Team were true heroes, devoting themselves to helping make organ donation and transplantation a reality for people facing life-threatening conditions. They have given the ultimate sacrifice in their mission to serve others, and their work and sacrifice will not be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families and their extended family at the University of Michigan.”
June 4
An urgent message to the U-M Health System community from Dr. Campbell
It is with deep regret that I have some tragic news to share with you this evening. At approximately 5:50 p.m. ET today, we were notified that the Cessna jet leased by our U-M Survival Flight / Transplant Team air ambulance program had crashed into Lake Michigan.
Six members of our U-M Survival Flight / Transplant Team team were aboard: two members of the staff of Marlin Air, which flies all Survival Flight / Transplant Team airplane missions; and four U-M employees. The aircraft was owned by Toy Air and based at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, and was en route back to U-M after procuring organs for transplant into a patient at U-M.
Aboard the aircraft were:
- David Ashburn, M.D., Resident in thoracic surgery
- Richard Chenault II, a transplant donation specialist with the U-M Transplant Program
- Dennis Hoyes, a Marlin air pilot
- Ricky LaPensee, a transplant donation specialist with the U-M Transplant Program
- Bill Serra, a Marlin air pilot
- Martinus (Martin) Spoor, M.D., Cardiac Surgeon on the U-M faculty
The search for survivors is continuing, led by the U.S. Coast Guard. The families of all aboard have been notified.
The thoughts of the entire University community are with the families of those involved this evening. We vigilantly await the results of the Coast Guard’s search for our team.
As soon as the Survival Flight / Transplant Team dispatchers received word of the incident, they reached the team that had been preparing the patient who was the transplant candidate, and the operation was suspended. The patient remains in critical condition.
Further updates will be given in the morning. For confidentiality reasons, U-M will not be releasing information on the transplant candidate.
Sincerely,
Darrell A. Campbell, M.D., chief of staff of the U-M Hospitals & Health Centers and transplant surgeon
