by Akan Ido
Peter Siebold, the pilot who survived the crash of Virgin Galactic’s experimental spacecraft has described his survival as a “miracle”.
Siebold told the Daily Sun that he must have momentarily lost consciousness as soon as the spacecraft broke in two mid air but he later came to during the fall.
The father of two narrated the horrible events following the October 31 crash saying, “I must have lost consciousness at first. I can’t remember anything about what happened, but I must have come to during the fall.
“I remember waving to the chase plane and giving them the thumbs-up to tell them I was okay.”
“I know it’s a miracle I survived,” added Siebold.
The crash over the Mojave Desert claimed the life of co-pilot Michael Alsbury, 39. The accident occurred after the prototype craft separated from its mothership at about 50,000 feet above sea level.
Experts say Siebold may have survived because he remained in his seat and the parachute, designed to deploy in such a case, functioned properly.
“He broke the head of the humerus bone that sits in the right shoulder. He’s got a rib and lung contusion and there is an issue with his eyes because of the cold,” his father, Dr Klaus Siebold, told the Daily Mail .
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