"I feel lucky," says helicopter pilot Kevin Rossan. "If it wasn't for the people that helped me, it would've been a different story."
May 24 is a day Rossan won't forget. It was a typical day of spraying chemicals from his Metropolitan Mosquito Control helicopter. While flying near Lake Marion in Lakeville, his engine quit.
"I was on my last pass when it just went quiet," says Rossan. "I had to make a split-second decision."
He could either land in a residential area or take the more difficult route and maneuver the chopper to the lake. He took the second option.
"I hit pretty hard but you always try to minimize the danger to the people on the ground," Rossan remembered.
The impact of the crash broke his back and made for swimming to safety very difficult. Rossan credits neighbors and nearby boaters who helped him to safety. He spent part of Monday morning thanking them for their assistance.
"People flocked out of their home. I really lucked out," Rossan said.
Rossan has months of rehab ahead of him, but says he will likely return to flying when he has recovered.
"I said a little prayer when I hit the water," says Rossan. "I believe it was a miracle."
The crash was likely caused by mechanical failure, however the FAA's investigation of the incident is still open.
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