Windermere to recognize pair that helped save plane-crash victims

WINDERMERE  The two men who recently rescued a father and daughter after their plane crashed in a Windermere lake will be recognized for their actions by the town of Windermere.

Austin Keaton and Joao Pacheco witnessed the small, single-engine plane plunge into Lake Down Friday, July 8, around 6:15 p.m. The pair had been fishing in the lake and immediately rushed to aid the pilot and his 9-year-old daughter, using their boat to bring the pair safely to shore.

Keaton and Pacheco will be recognized during the Windermere Council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at Windermere Town Hall.

Although the father and daughter remain hospitalized, family members of all parties are expected to be attending the recognition ceremony to meet and share their thoughts for the first time since the incident.

“This has been a very difficult month for America and Central Florida…. from the Pulse tragedy to the loss of the Dallas Police Officers,” said Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn in a press release. “And after learning of a plane crash in one of our lakes, this could have easily been another tragedy in the long list this month. Thanks to these young men, a family still has a daughter and a father. Windermere is proud of them!”

For original story and background information, see “Two injured in Windermere small-plane crash.”

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].