This is another update care of Nik Coleman on the 25/10 with news on Maurice Hammond.....
A big Maurice Hammond Update. Evening everyone. Gosh a number of things to tell you.
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Firstly, as ever, we'd like to reach out to the family of Mr Marshall with our thoughts and prayers. A Marshall family member has been in direct contact with me, and we are all in awe of their dignity, compassion and concern for Maurice at a devastating time for them.
We must also pay tribute to the brave efforts of their party in assisting at the scene and playing an important part in rescuing Maurice. Thank you all.
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So Maurice is in a room on a regular ward. He was due for another surgery today to relieve the burn to his back on which he's had a skin graft. He'll be recovering from that general anaesthetic for a couple of days.
We'd like to just clarify the very tiny speculation we've heard surrounding burns. No one really knows how the serious burn to his back occurred - but please be assured all his other superficial burns are healing well, and Maurice looks like Maurice, his face, hands legs and everything else are intact in terms of burns.
He has a bruised and battered left arm that will take time to heal, a mass of broken ribs, and other - forgive the phrase - to him 'minor' broken bones.
MH is in a bed, stepping out occasionally for a few painful steps with assistance as part of his rehab. He's been very bashed about, has special metalwork in his neck as previously briefed, has recovered from a near coma and has been laying on his back, in bed for 24 days being fed through a tube... so he's not exactly going to be running the London Marathon. As we've said... slow slow progress.
He's eating and drinking, being as cheerful as a very active person confined to a bed can be. He's aware of the outcome of the incident and obviously is working to come to terms with all the losses involved.
He's conversing and communicating normally despite his obvious pain and discomfort.
He's been keeping up with the F1 and MotoGP results, and has had a range of visitors over and above the family. Many hundreds of get well cards and wishes have been received both at the hospital and home.
He's aware that we've raised over $400 via Vimeo for the EAAA.
Tomorrow he will have his laptop with him, and I've sent a pair of our company headphones with it so the whole ward doesn't have to listen to Status Quo Live in Leeds.
He knows you're all rooting for him and along with the whole family is overwhelmed by all your support.
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I'll try to very factually address some of the many many other questions we've been asked. I can't expand on these snippets, they are simply facts as we know them and I can't enter into discussion on this but perhaps they will help:
The aircraft did not suffer an overwhelming fire, post incident.
The AAIB investigation continues and it is my understanding that they have spoken to, or have arranged to speak to, all involved parties, as is normal in all similar cases. There's no indication when they will conclude their investigation.
The aircraft has been taken to an AAIB facility as is normal in all similar cases.
The aircraft, as is normal in all similar cases, is likely to be retained by the investigators for a substantial time, perhaps a year or so.
Marinell, as has been widely reported, was transferred to a new owner in Europe some months ago, and entirely coincidentally departed Hardwick permanently on the day of the incident.
First media contact following the incident was made by the Emergency Services via their normal media incident alert service.
The widely used images of the aircraft's final disposition were taken by an EDP staff photographer diverted to the scene from another assignment. His work was in no way intrusive or voyeristic, he was just doing his job.
The reason that all of the regional and national media ran essentially the same story is that we updated the Press Association immediately and kept updating them. No one was paid for this or profited from it.
My services to the family are provided as a friend, I'm not paid nor would I ever expect to be, nor do I receive any remuneration from any media.
EyeTech Engineering continues business as usual on all fronts, is busy and thriving.
Hope that covers all your questions - now I'm off to Dallas via LA, to film Wings Over Dallas!
Cheers, Nik Coleman
Thanks Nik. You are really doing a great job for the family. I hope that the time is not dragging on too much. You must introduce M to PPRuNe, there are some fascinating threads for him to read to help pass the time.....
Get well soon Maurice.
MB