NIAGARA FALLS, NY - Austin Hatch has survived not one, but two plane crashes. And, on Monday was speaking to students in Niagara Falls.
His story is truly inspirational. Students at Niagara Falls High School hung onto his every word. Austin’s story begins with tragedy, in 2003, when he was just eight years old.
His family, was in their single-engine plane, heading back home to Indiana from a trip. His father was flying, when they crashed. Austin’s mother, brother and sister did not survive.
"My father and I fortunately did and he was severely injured and I was injured pretty bad as well, but we overcame it together," Hatch said.
And then, eight years later, in June 2011, on another family getaway, it happened again. Austin was involved in another plane crash – this time his father and stepmother, who were onboard died.
"My parents lost their lives and I almost did and I was injured pretty bad. They didn’t know if I’d make it but fortunately I did," Hatch said.
Among Austin’s injuries was severe brain trauma: he went through months of grueling physical therapy. Austin would then attend Michigan, where he played his freshman year for Niagara County native, Coach John Beilein. But after one season…
"Your brain controls your body, how fast you move, how high you jump, how quick you can stay in front of people on defense and unfortunately I can’t do what Coach Beilein recruited me to do," Hatch said.
So he focused on his degree in business and Coach Beilein still honored his full scholarship.
"Very grateful and I’ll never be able to repay coach for all that he’s done for me," Hatch said.
He’ll graduate from Michigan next week, and is getting married in June and already has a corporate job lined up with Domino’s, which has its headquarters in Michigan.
His message to anyone who’s listening…
"Work as hard as we can to overcome any adversity we face and to remember our greater purpose," Hatch said.