Crash Pilot Tapes Scalp Back On

I don’t typically like posting back-to-back crash stories (see yesterday’s If You’re Not Yet Afraid of Flying …), but this is just too good. Via The Age:

A young pilot who crashed in a New Zealand mountain range taped a chunk of his scalp back on and trekked for two hours to raise help for his injured student.

Just to be clear: he taped his scalp back on.

As in: the scalp fell off of his head. And he used tape to secure it back on his noggin.

Student pilot Nick Eagleson, 33, was knocked out in the crash but Bateman managed to crawl out of the wreckage with a badly gashed scalp and free his companion.

He used his survival kit to dress his wound before walking eight kilometres down a steep valley to get help.

Jesus, that’s gotta take some balls. Kudos to you, Mr. Bateman. If you’re ever in RI, I’ll be glad to buy you a pint.

And somehow the media gives us “heroes” like Michael Vick? It’s tragic.