Authorities at the Dr. Soedono Hospital in Madiun, East Java, said the 14 severely injured victims of the Air Force Hercules plane crash in Ngeplak village, Karas district in Magetan, East Java, who were currently being treated at the hospital, were on their way to recovery.
The victims, who survived the air crash that claimed 101 lives, mostly suffered from brain concussions and bone fractures but not from burns.
Survivors Angga Buana Kusuma Dirgantara, 14 months old, and his sister Anggun Putri Auria Rachmaninhrum, 3, lost their mother Lemy Muchananingrum, 33, and their 8-year-old elder brother Ardhya Bagus Rochman Mochendra.
"I never imagined such a tragedy could happen because my wife and son Ardhya, who had just recovered from a fever in hospital, were smiling when I sent them to the Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in Jakarta," Chief Sergeant Dedi Rahmat Sukarno, 33, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
His wife and three children left for Madiun to meet Lemy's parents and relatives there, as they had not met for the past few years. Lemy initially planned to go to Madiun three weeks ago with her twin sister, but Ardhya's illness prevented her from doing so.
"I regret not having allowed my wife and children to go then, but what else could I do. It's my wife's fate. I'm grateful my two children are still alive," said Dedi, who works at the Air Force Operation Command at Halim Perdana Kusuma in Jakarta.
Dr. Soedono Hospital director Dodo Anondo said Angga and Anggun were recovering from their leg fractures. Angga sustained fractures to both legs, while Anggun to her left leg only.
"Angga was earlier given a ventilator to help him through his critical condition, but the device was removed as Dedi arrived from Jakarta and his health continued to improve. He has drunk a lot of milk," Dodo told the Post.
According to Dodo, 3-year-oldJenny - another child victim who survived the crash - lost her father Chief Private Alfon who was posted in Biak, Papua, in the crash. Jenny, who was hit by a hard object, still has to undergo a surgery.
"I'm surprised to see the victims not suffering from burns despite most of the victims died from burns. This is a miracle from God. We couldn't explain how this happened," said Dodo.
He added the medical team was still treating Major Lekahena, who heads the Biak Airbase Logistics Office and sustained injuries to his neck and thigh.
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|