Ken Bathurst from Pakenham in Victoria, and his seventeen-year-old grandson, miraculously survived a plane crash that should have ended in a fatal disaster had God not intervened.
‘I had this two-seater aircraft that I’d given to my grandson, who’d just gotten his license. I had started to think about hanging up my flying suit and let him fly me around,’ said Ken. ‘We went out for a fly just to get him familiar with operating the aircraft, and we had an engine failure. This is down in the southern Victorian region in Wilsons Promontory. There was nowhere to go down as there were trees under us. We were trying to weave our way between the trees to find a little bit of a bare patch of ground. No luck. We got caught in the top of one. The aircraft was overhanging vertically, pointing straight about 12 or 13 metres up off the ground.’
Things were not looking good for Ken and his grandson as the plane lay precariously on the treetops.
‘I had full confidence in my grandson’s ability. He is a very good pilot. But the fact is I couldn’t see anything out of the aircraft because it was so full of steam and smoke from the engine. The engine had burst a pipe and a few other things. I couldn’t see anything. So I was trying to hold the canopy open a little bit to suck all the smoke out. So I really didn’t see it coming in. The next thing I heard, this almighty crash, and once I heard the crash, I thought, Well, I must be alive. I’ve heard the crash.’
While his grandson was able to climb out of the plane and down the tree, Ken’s upper right arm was caught up by the seatbelt, and he was dangling out of the wreckage. As he tried to free himself, he fell out.
Passersby, who witnessed the accident, had called an ambulance and assisted Ken and his grandson.
Ken believed God intervened because the impact should have caused them a lot more bodily harm. For example, broken branches coming like a spear towards them should have pierced them. Petrol dripping down onto the hot engine should have caught fire and exploded. Ken was even amazed that the fall from the aircraft didn’t even result in any broken bones, especially at his age. What Ken was most grateful for was that his grandson who was only seventeen survived without injury.
Ken has been an extra-mile supporter of Vision Chrisitan Media for quite a few years. He said when Visionathon comes up, he likes to give a little extra because he’s reminded of how true the words of Malachi 3:10 have proved to be in his life.
‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.’ Malachi 3:10 NKJV
Ken has been a bus driver for 30 years and said he has always had all his needs provided for. He owns his house, has always had food on the table, and has been able to do the things he loves, like flying.
Ken said God has been great to him, and one of the ways he shows his gratitude to God is by supporting Vision’s ministry to bring the Word of God to all Australians.
‘Vision is a fantastic ministry, and I’m hoping that you’ll get more and more stations and literally flood Australia with the word of God.’
The seed you sow by donating to Visionathon will enable Vision to continue to install radio stations and take up opportunities when high-frequency stations become available, as was the case with Hobart in Tasmania and now DAB+ Radio in Brisbane.
Will you help people look to God daily by making a tax-deductible donation to keep Vision operating and spreading the Gospel to the four corners of Australia?
Now is a great time to call in on 1800 316 316, at vision.org.au or in the free Vision Christian Media app.
