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'Flying Vet' in plane crash drama | 'Flying Vet' in plane crash drama |
(1 day later) | |
A former vet from south Wales who crashed into the ocean during a solo flight has been rescued near the Dominican Republic in the Atlantic. | A former vet from south Wales who crashed into the ocean during a solo flight has been rescued near the Dominican Republic in the Atlantic. |
Maurice Kirk, 62, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, issued a mayday call before his plane went down. | Maurice Kirk, 62, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, issued a mayday call before his plane went down. |
Rescuers said an emergency radio beacon may have saved the life of the man who calls himself the "Flying Vet". | Rescuers said an emergency radio beacon may have saved the life of the man who calls himself the "Flying Vet". |
Mr Kirk was expelled by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for "disgraceful" conduct in 2002. | Mr Kirk was expelled by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for "disgraceful" conduct in 2002. |
The vet, formerly of Rue Couches in St Martin's, Guernsey, was said to be stable after transfer to the nearby Turks and Caicos islands. | |
The crash happened about 75 miles north-west of the town of Puerto Plata and he was found by a United States coastguard helicopter which had tracked his emergency radio beacon. | The crash happened about 75 miles north-west of the town of Puerto Plata and he was found by a United States coastguard helicopter which had tracked his emergency radio beacon. |
Petty officer Nick Ameen, of the coastguard in Miami, Florida said: "Luckily he had that beacon on him. That was a really good decision on his part." | Petty officer Nick Ameen, of the coastguard in Miami, Florida said: "Luckily he had that beacon on him. That was a really good decision on his part." |
His expulsion as a vet allowed him more time for his flying passion and Mr Kirk began an attempt to fly solo around the world in 2001. | His expulsion as a vet allowed him more time for his flying passion and Mr Kirk began an attempt to fly solo around the world in 2001. |
This was when he piloted his small Piper Club World War II plane from London to Sydney, Australia. | This was when he piloted his small Piper Club World War II plane from London to Sydney, Australia. |
A former drinking friend of the late actor Oliver Reed, Mr Kirk has got into trouble before on his round-the-world trip. | A former drinking friend of the late actor Oliver Reed, Mr Kirk has got into trouble before on his round-the-world trip. |
According to his website, Kirk Flying Vet, he was injured when he crash-landed in Japan in 2005 after his engine lost power. | According to his website, Kirk Flying Vet, he was injured when he crash-landed in Japan in 2005 after his engine lost power. |
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