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| Photos courtesy of Air Evac Lifeteam From left to right: Allan Bragwell, Michael Baker, Tiffany Miles | ||
Descriptions such as “devoted”, “kind-hearted”, and “irreplaceable” have been used in conjunction with the three Muscle Shoals, Ala. Air Evac Lifeteam crew members who were killed early Sunday morning when their helicopter crashed in southern Colbert County, Ala.
Pilot Michael Baker, 41, Lake Ann, Mich., Base Nurse Supervisor Tiffany Miles, 29, and flight paramedic Allan Bragwell, 40, both of Florence, Ala., dedicated their lives to public service, and in fact, their final hours were spent locating a hunter who had gone missing late Saturday night in a wooded area south of Barton. The crew had located the hunter just minutes before their aircraft went down about 3:05 a.m. near Mount Mills Road.
The cause of the accident is not known, but is under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
“Michael, Tiffany and Allan were wonderful individuals, and we are deeply saddened by their deaths,” said Air Evac Lifeteam Area Manager David Gardner. “The Muscle Shoals crew is one big family, and we appreciate everyone’s prayers and thoughts during this difficult time. It’s just a very emotional time for everyone involved. Michael, Tiffany and Allan were extremely popular with their colleagues and within the Muscle Shoals EMS community.”
Base Paramedic Supervisor Bruce Carson described the mood within the Muscle Shoals base as one of somberness and devastation. “The community has lost three of the most selfless individuals in our company, and we lost three great friends,” he said. “Our hearts go out to their families.”
Baker, who recently retired from a lifelong career as a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter pilot, came to Air Evac in March of 2007. Mike spent his career helping others, having received numerous commendations for his search and rescue efforts with the Coast Guard. He was an active member of the Coast Guard Reserves and had just been promoted to lieutenant commander.
Baker’s father, James Baker, and sister, Elizabeth, described Mike as being one of the most caring, generous people they had ever known.
“He was not only a wonderful son, but an outstanding individual,” James said. “I’m so very proud of him and his accomplishments. He always took time to help others and enjoyed organizing activities for senior citizens and children. He took great joy in offering a helping hand to others.”
James said Baker had always wanted to be an aviator and was a proficient glider, helicopter and fixed wing pilot. “He loved being a pilot and was so very proud of working for Air Evac. He told me he loved the people he worked with and the opportunity the job gave him to help others.”
A brother, Steve, described Baker as “the glue that held their family together. I’m not sure how we’re going to manage without him. He was the one we all turned to when we needed something and he was always there to help us.”
Although he had only been with the company for 10 months, Gardner said Baker was extremely popular with other crew members. “He was just a really nice guy,” said Gardner. “He blended very well with the other crew members, and they really enjoyed him a lot.”
Baker was also renowned around the base for his culinary ability. “He was a great pilot, but he was also a great cook. He was loved by everybody,” said Carson.
Miles lived in Florence, Ala. with husband Josh and two young sons. According to Gardner, who worked with her at the Helen Keller Ambulance Service, she knew early on she wanted to work in healthcare. “She was such a caring individual, and she just wanted to serve others,” he said. “She was embraced by everybody, from her colleagues to people in the community. She is irreplaceable.”
A native of Winston County, Ala., she started her career at Helen Keller Ambulance Service, and eventually transitioned to an emergency room nurse for the Helen Keller Hospital. She began working full time at Air Evac in March 2004, was promoted to her current position as Base Nurse Supervisor in 2006, said Gardner.
“As a flight nurse, she was always on top of her game and strived to provide the best care for her patients,” said Air Evac Lifeteam Clinical Educator Noah Banister. For all her accolades as a flight nurse, however, Miles was held in even higher esteem as a friend and mother. “She was kind-hearted and always thought of others before herself,” said Banister. “She had the ability to not only take care of everyone at the base, but her own family too.”
“Tiffany was a glowing person,” said Carson.
Bragwell, 40, who also lived in Florence with his wife and four children, was described as a paramedic that all the other paramedics looked up to and a cornerstone of the Muscle Shoals/EMS community.
“If you had Allan as a partner, you knew it was going to be a good day,” said Gardner. “His skill level was that good. And as a person, he always had a positive attitude.”
Bragwell worked part-time for Air Evac, and served as the ambulance director for Helen Keller Ambulance Service, where he had been employed for 18 years. He was also a volunteer firefighter with the Underwood-Petersville Volunteer Fire Department.
“He was a rock,” said Banister. “Allan was a devoted, hard worker and loved helping people. He was the friend that would stick with you no matter what.”
Colleagues were quick to mention Bragwell’s quick wit and charm. “Oh, he was a character,” said Gardner. “He was always jovial, and kept everyone in stitches.” Carson agreed, noting Bragwell’s “great personality” in addition to his superior paramedic skills. “He was the best of the best,” said Carson.