POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) — Three individuals are being honored for their heroic actions in saving three victims in a Pompano Beach plane crash.
Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher, city commissioners, and Fire Chief John Jurgle are recognizing Robbie Burning, Cynthia Kopenski and Larry Ferris after they helped three victims when their plane crashed on April 25.
“I seen on the fence, she was just hanging there,” said Burning. “I ran over, grabbed her off the fence and brought her outside and laid her down. Told her to lay still till the paramedics get there.”
Kopenski and Burning comforted the victims while Ferris grabbed a garden hose to fight the fire. Now, the city is recognizing their heroism. “What’s done in the first few minutes determines the outcome — whether people live or die,” said Jurgle. “On this particular emergency in that neighborhood, the whole neighborhood sprang into action.”
The pilot and two passengers all sustained severe burns. “We’re not heroes, we’re just glad that we were there in the moment,” Kopenski said.
Ferris said that he simply reacted when the crash happened. “I really didn’t think. Someone needed my help, so I jumped into action,” Ferris said.
The three victims are still recovering, and the pilot has been released from the hospital. The cause of the crash is still being investigated.
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