Kelly Jablonski remembers being on fire, unable to move in the crashed plane, and giving up, knowing he was going to die.
Jablonski was one of the passengers aboard the twin-engined Beechcraft King Air 100 that crashed short of a runway at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond on Thursday.
Jablonski, in hospital in intensive care, suffered multiple fractures to his spine, smoke inhalation and burns on his lower body. Doctors have inserted metal rods in his back.
His friend, Kevin Harris, told Jablonski's story on Sunday.
"I don't know how he got out of the chair," said Harris. "He probably got himself out of the seat. He was on the floor. His legs weren't moving because of the spinal injury.
"He's a strong-willed person, an incredible athlete. He gave [escaping] 110 per cent. He gave up because he smelled the gas and he caught on fire and he felt the heat and smoke. He felt in his mind that he gave it his best shot to live but he was going to die by burning to death," Harris continued.
"He blanked out and when he came to, he heard sirens.
"He doesn't know who pulled him out."
But Harris said Jablonski remembers waking up on the concrete outside the burning plane and being doused with water.
After being operated on, he wanted to speak to his friends, but couldn't because he had a breathing tube inserted in his throat. He asked for a pen and paper to write notes.
"The first thing he says to me is, 'Love you guys' [to Harris and his wife]. The next thing he writes is, 'Don't worry about work, we have a great staff, the best staff we've ever had.'"
Jablonski is CEO of Ultimate Skateboard Distributions in Richmond. Harris was flabbergasted that after such an accident Jablonski could be thinking of anybody or anything else.
"It just shocked me, what a great person," Harris said.
Instead of going on vacation today to Mexico with his girlfriend, Jablonski faces a long recovery.
"Thank God there wasn't nerve damage," said Harris. "Rehab is going to be intense."
Harris called the rescuers heroes and wants them recognized for their incredible courage in going into a burning plane.
"I want to make sure at the end of the day, who pulled him out, how it all worked out, that these people are dealt with," said Harris.
Vancouver Coastal Health plans to update the status of everyone involved in the crash this morning.
Pilot Luc Fortin, 44, of North Vancouver died in hospital following the crash. He was the only fatality. Fortin leaves behind his wife, Dagne, and 16-month-old daughter Katelyn.
Donations to Fortin's family can be made to the Dagne and Katelyn Trust Fund at any TD Branch, Account No. 6432293. For more details email inmemoryofluc@
