Austin Anderson, Marine, Dies After Saving Sole Survivor In Kansas Plane Crash On Way To Christian Rally

Marine Dies After Saving Sole Survivor Of Plane Crash On Way To Christian Rally

A Marine who died after pulling a survivor from a plane crash is being hailed a hero for his act of bravery.

Austin Anderson, who served two tours of duty in Iraq, was one of five friends aboard a twin-engine plane that crashed while traveling to a Christian youth rally in Iowa Friday, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 27-year-old managed to make it out alive and pulled the other remaining survivor, Hannah Luce, 22, to safety, according to Fox News Insider.

The pair flagged down help and the two were taken to a nearby Kansas hospital. But Anderson, who suffered burns on 90 percent of his body, died soon after, FOX reports.

"He served two tours in Iraq, and he was willing to give his life for his country,” Hannah’s father, Ron Luce, told KMBC. “He was willing to give his life for a friend. He was always willing to go that extra mile."

Luce, who was burned on 28 percent of her body, according to The LA Times, was taken off of a respirator on Monday and is expected to make a full recovery.

"While we're thankful for this miracle of Hannah,” Ron Luce said at a press conference, “we are truly grieving with all these parents.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what caused the crash, the Los Angeles Times reports.

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