Wade Berzas, the sole survivor of the Saturday plane crash that killed five people in Lafayette, Louisiana,
remains in critical condition.
.
According to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Berzas suffered from burns on 75 percent of his body, a shoulder dislocation and lacerations to his head following the crash. He was conscious when he arrived at the hospital, but because of his condition, he hasn't been able to answer any questions about the crash.
He has undergone one surgery so far to assess his wounds and is intubated, medically sedated and in critical condition.
Dr. Joey Barrios, director of the Lourdes burn unit, said Berzas has several factors in his favor.
"His young age, his overall good health, his strong family support, and his unwavering faith. We have seen that family support makes a significant difference in the recovery of burn patients," Barrios said. "He has a long journey ahead, which we will take day by day."
</div>
Friends and family have described Berzas as a devout Catholic, devoted husband and father. To read more about him, click here .
His family has issued the following statement:
"The outpouring of compassion and encouraging words for Wade are deeply felt by our whole family. We are truly grateful to be held so strongly in prayer by this community. We thank you for the special gift of prayers and rosaries dedicated to Wade's healing. Our hearts ache for our friends and the families affected by this tragic event. Please offer us privacy in the days ahead as we give Wade our focused energy and loving support."
Berzas and others on the plane — including sports reporter Carley McCord — were headed to Atlanta to watch the LSU Tigers play in the Peach Bowl against Okahoma. McCord was the daughter-in-law of LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger.
The crash happened about a mile from the Lafayette Regional Airport just after 9:00 a.m. local time Saturday
Authorities say there was a small fire involving the plane and one vehicle was fully engulfed. Both fires were quickly extinguished and a search and rescue was conducted.
Also injured in the crash was Danielle Britt, who was badly burned. She was bringing donuts to her husband, who works at a nearby post office when the crash happened. To read about a crowdfunding account set up to help her, click here .
This story was originally published by
KATC
in Lafayette, Louisiana.
