Login or Sign up
Start Now

Fresh Perspective Interview with Mark Hood

Written by Aaron Pinkston, Sun, Jan 17 2010
This is about true stories

Recent Postings

Featured in Alltop The Yakezie Challenge

Topics

 

This week, I had the opportunity to interview one of the survivors of the “Miracle on the Hudson” crash landing, one year after it happened. Mark Hood, a businessman and former Marine Officer was on Flight 1549 that day. Not only that, he was the second to last to be rescued.

I could still hear the commotion and feel the chill of that day in his words. If you want to read more, you should check out a copy of Brace for Impact. It’s written from the perspective of Mark and the other survivors as they share their stories.

AP: To many of the people on that flight, you might be known for being the second to last to get rescued. Tell me about that story.

MH: I’m a very fortunate person when it comes to the events of Flight 1549. When we evacuated into the front rescue raft, my training as a Marine Officer kicked in. I learned that one of the best ways to survive a disaster is to constantly improve one’s situation. To begin with, I maintain an elevated level of fitness. I run, lift weights, and bike regularly. That is part of the reason I was not injured during the initial crash.

I also positioned myself in the raft where I could see everything from the approaching ferries to the passengers swimming in the water. I immediately made a decision to get the swimmers out of the water ASAP. I gained the attention of the swimmers and hauled 3 of them out of the river. The entire time we were seated in the raft we were freezing. These rafts have a mesh bottom so we were operating in frigid waters up to our waists. I prayed for guidance and asked the lord to give me strength, guidance, and courage.

Once we had the swimmers out of the water we positioned them low in the middle of the raft and surrounded them with warm bodies to keep them from going into hypothermic shock. We then moved those suffering the most off the raft up and onto the ferries. After it was all said and done, I was fairing better than most so I triaged myself as being the last to leave the raft.

It just so happened that Captain Sullenberger and I were the last on the raft - he through command, me through choice.

AP: I got a few questions from my followers on Twitter. One person wants to know how the crash changed your relationships in life?

MH: My life has not changed too drastically, I flew home on the 15th at 10:30 and I have been flying ever since then. My faith is stronger than it has ever been because I was able to witness the grace of our lord through the miracle. Hebrews 11:1 speaks to faith, and I assure you or any of the readers that God is real and he was certainly there on the 15th.

AP: Another person on Twitter wants to know if, because of the crash, you have any life regrets or any new resolves?

MH: I truly have no regrets. Right before we were crashing I felt a pang of remorse that I would get to heaven before my family and had not truly said a proper good by. But I knew I was going to heaven and knew I would see my parents, brother, and fellow Marines, who got there before me.

So from a new resolves standpoint, I take nothing for granted! When I kiss my wife goodbye I kiss her like it is the last time I will see her. When I tell my kids I love them I try to say it and feel it like it might be the last memory they have of me. Every breath I take now is bonus granted from God!

AP: Speaking of, you probably were a lot closer to death at that time than most of my readers have been. Did the crash and rescue effort help you deal with your own mortality? What advice would you give to others who haven’t gotten to that point yet?

MH: I can answer that briefly: None of us get out of this life alive. Not you, me, or any of your readers. I have seen death all over the world in Africa, the Mid-East, Europe, and here in the US. So let’s establish a baseline - we are all going to die - so there is no question of my own mortality.

The question you and your readers have to answer is do you know where you are going when you die? I did an interview for CBS evening news on Thursday and I asked the Producer that same question. That is the take away from all my writing, speaking, interviews, etc. If you do not know you are going to heaven then you will experience fear for real. If you have the assurance of everlasting life, then you will experience true peace which surpasses all threats.

AP: Mark, thanks again for sharing your story. I think people can really learn from your experience.

MH: Feel free to let me know of any questions. I speak about that day often!


Last week, I talked with Matt Jabs from DebtFreeAdventure.com about existentialism and the unique way he and his wife are getting out of debt. Check it out.