A 10-year-old boy has been dubbed “hero” after he selflessly protected his little sister during the devastating plane crash in Philadelphia last week. Andre Howard is now recovering from the injuries he sustained from flying debris of the Mexico-bound air ambulance, which crashed near Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue on Friday.
Hero 10-year-old boy protects little sister during Philadelphia plane crash
The young boy was in his car while getting doughnuts with his father, Andre Howard, and two siblings at the time of the crash, which left seven dead and several others injured. “Heard what we thought was a car crash, but then you see a fury of fire in the air, then a bunch of debris shooting everywhere,” the boy's dad told ABC 6 Action News.
Recalling the moment his son sprang into action to shield his little sister from the debris, Howard said, “My son … tells his little sister, ‘Get down!’ And he grabs her [as] I hear the glass shatter. I turn around, there’s a piece of metal sticking out of my son’s head from the plane.” As the boy was impaled by a piece of metal from the jet, a good samaritan rushed to him and put pressure on his wound.
The boy was then transported to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he underwent surgery. “They told us my son wasn’t supposed to make it,” Howard said, adding, “They also told us, ‘They don’t do children trauma.’ But they did for us, which was nothing but God.” Meanwhile, the boy's mother, Lashawn Hamiel was shaken by the incident.
{{/usCountry}}The boy was then transported to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he underwent surgery. “They told us my son wasn’t supposed to make it,” Howard said, adding, “They also told us, ‘They don’t do children trauma.’ But they did for us, which was nothing but God.” Meanwhile, the boy's mother, Lashawn Hamiel was shaken by the incident.
{{/usCountry}}“As a mother what am I supposed to do?” Hamiel told the station, adding, “But he’s good. He’s pushing through. He’s strong, he’s a jokester, but he’s strong. He’s a superhero.” The boy's father added, “To face death yesterday and speaking today, stepping up for his little sister, like I train him and his other little brothers to do off of instinct — he’s my hero.”