The first public accolades for the heroes who responded to Thursday’s airplane crash in Richmond have started to come in.
Premier Christy Clark said Tuesday she and Solicitor-general Shirley Bond will hold a reception at the Legislature for those involved in the rescue of passengers and pilots of Northern Thunderbird Air Flight 204.
And Lions International has said it wants to award its Medal of Merit to all those who pulled passengers from the wreckage after it crashed on Russ Baker Way.
Paul Wong, a Lions member, said the international club will make the award at its convention in April.
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The premier said in a statement that the province is working with the Richmond Fire Department to identify everyone who assisted in the rescue.
She said she was touched by the stories of heroism and bravery that had emerged, and she wants to honour those involved.
“Like most British Columbians, I read and heard the incredible stories of selfless heroism that emerged through the weekend,” Clark said in her statement.
“When you consider the harrowing circumstances and the grave danger these people put themselves in to save others, it’s clear they deserve our deepest thanks. Without their quick-thinking responses, there is no doubt the tragedy of this incident would have been compounded. I believe many people share our belief that we should honour the civilian heroes, the plane’s crew and the first responders, and we will do just that.”
Bond said the reception is to honour people who “emerged from this emergency a community of heroes, and we want to recognize every one of them.”
The accident occurred after an aircraft chartered by a business leadership development company, Tec Canada, crashed while on an approach to Vancouver International Airport during an emergency. The aircraft, with seven passengers, had been en route to Kelowna for an executive business retreat. Pilot Luc Fortin died, and co-pilot Matt Robic suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body. All seven passengers on board, who were mostly executives of Vancouver companies, suffered injuries. Several of them are still in hospital.
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