AUCKLAND NZ (ANS) -- The pilot who escaped death when his place crashed in mountainous terrain in the Southern Alps says God's hand was over everything that happened.
Flight instructor Richard Bateman, 27, a flight instructor, and his student pilot Nicholas Eagleson from the North Shore Aero Club, near Auckland, were doing some flight training in a two-seater Robin R2120 when they crashed.
The student received serious injuries but Mr Bateman walked away from the crash, amazingly, in one piece. His injuries included a broken wrist, bruised ribs and severe scalp wounds.
Mr Bateman said everything that occurred, from the time he walked more than eight kilometres from the crash site to look for help until he and Mr Eagleson were rescued, was God's doing.
He ensured his seriously injured student was comfortable and then prayed for help before setting off. Despite his injuries and suffering from dehydration and shock, Mr Bateman managed to walk over the rough terrain until he found a hut. The hut was locked.
He found some dry tussock in which he lit a fire to alert a rescue helicopter he could hear flying overhead.
"God sent the helicopter at the right time, the right materials were there for me to light a fire - it was God's doing," he said.
Now recovering at his Glenfield home on the North Shore, after having 44 staples removed from his head last week, Mr Bateman said he was in good spirits, although he did occasionally feel "dismayed and disheartened." He believes what happened was for a reason which God will reveal in the future.
"All things will work out for good. Whether this was a wake-up call for Nick or me, I don't know, but in months or years to come we will know," he said.
Mr Bateman is asking for continued prayer for Mr Eagleson, who faces months of rehabilitation in a Christchurch spinal unit.
He thanked his family members, friends, the North Shore Community Church and home group for all their prayers and support.
"People I don't even know have been sending me emails and get-well wishes," he said. The accident has not deterred him from flying and he still dreams of one day flying for Mission Aviation Fellowship.
"I feel drawn to go to Africa."
Mary Bateman, who found out about the accident when her son called from the back of the ambulance to ask for prayer for Nick and himself, said she hoped God would use his testimony to save many lives.
Mrs Bateman said she has taken a lot of comfort from Isaiah 51, which promises comfort, joy, gladness, thanksgiving, singing, salvation and righteousness.
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