Just before Christmas, a father threw himself in front of a mechanical road snow blower that was about to hit his children, and loses both legs as a result, in a tragic snow blower accident.
Dad Saves Daughters in Snow Blower Accident, Loses Both Legs
Dave and Clare Miln and their family travelled from their home in San Diego, California to Mammoth Mountain on December 15, 2022, hoping to have a family ski day. They enrolled their 1-year-old (Anna) and 3-year-old (Isla) daughters into ski school at the popular California ski resort in Northern California.
However, on that morning as Dave Miln and his wife were taking their daughters to the ski lessons, family friend, Tsen Bogan shared on the family’s GoFundMe page that “they had a traumatic life changing interaction with a Mechanical Road Snow Blower whilst on their way.”
An Australian Defense Force veteran, Dave heroically three himself over his children to protect them as they collided in the snow blower accident.
According to his wife, “Dave’s actions ultimately saved the lives of the girls.”
Also present, Clare alerted emergency authorities, who responded quickly.
“However, Isla still entered the machine,” the GoFundMe explained. “Due to the extent of his injuries, Dave spent over an hour in the machine until rescuers were able to free him, and relocate to hospital, remaining conscious the whole time.”
Unfortunately, the father loses both legs, as a result. A news report on YouTube shows the father hero and his family:
Although the hospital staff went to work, performing 10 surgeries in three weeks, they weren’t able to save his legs. The GoFundMe page writes that there are “many more surgeries expected,” which will eventually lead to great financial costs.
In his plea for help, Bogan wrote, “Dave is now a double amputee; above the knee of the left and below the knee on the right, as well as breaking both femurs, pelvis, a number of his lower vertebrae, a sacral and finally 3 ribs.”
In the process, medical staff transferred Dave to a hospital in Sydney, Australia, and the family have followed.
Isla, the 3-year-old daughter who suffered some injuries is now out of the hospital, but still under medical care in her recovery.
Isla has suffered breaks in both of her legs and her pelvis, as well as other wounds, and had 3 surgeries and may require more,” Bogan wrote. “She is expected to make a full physical recovery (though a long process for an active toddler).”
In his GoFundMe post, Bogan said that even though the father loses both legs in the snow blower accident, “Dave still maintains his dark sense of humor and razor-sharp wit!”
And “Clare and Dave have shown strength and resilience beyond comprehension. The family has banded together with positive determination for the future,” said Bogan.
