Dave Miln, a father, and hero, sacrificed himself selflessly as he threw himself in the way of a fast-moving road snow plow to protect his two young daughters, Isla, three, and one-year-old Anna, from being hit.
Dave saved his daughters’ lives as he jumped in front of the girls. He was able to keep Anna under his body and tried his best to help Isla. Although Isla was hit by the machine and suffered injuries, she survived the incident and will recover.
The family was taking ski lessons at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in Northern California on the morning of Dec. 15 when the tragic accident happened.
Dave, an Australian Defence Force veteran, has been forever changed as he is now a double amputee. He lost his left leg above the knee and his right leg above the ankle. Isla suffered broken legs and some other wounds. Anna, however, made it out unscathed.
Dave, Clare, and their two daughters have moved back to Australia since the accident after living in San Diego, California, USA.
Dave has been transferred to Sydney, Australia, for medical care and is currently admitted in a hospital. Clare, Isla, and Anna have now returned to Sydney, and Isla is attending medical appointments regularly. As a family, they have commenced the difficult journey of recovery, both physically and emotionally.
A GoFundMe page has been created to try and raise money to help Dave, who broke both femurs, his pelvis, several lower vertebrae, a sacral vertebra, and three ribs, and has gone through 10 different surgeries in three weeks with more to come.
Dave has been able to hold onto his sense of humor through it all. According to the GoFundMe page, it states, “Many will be happy to know Dave still maintains his dark sense of humor and a razor-sharp wit!”
Isla’s condition will require more surgeries. The family stated, “Isla has suffered breaks in both of her legs and her pelvis, as well as other wounds, and had 3 surgeries and may require more.”
The page organizers have said that the medical costs are covered but that many other financial costs are expected to arise, such as vehicle modifications for Dave, household equipment and modifications, and other necessities that Dave will need to adjust to his disability.