Luggage from plane crash salvaged by commissioner’s daughter

The daughter of Windermere commissioner Jim O’Brien, 9-year-old Emily O’Brien, reacted to the highly-publicized plane crash in Lake Down that occurred July 8, by collecting and returning luggage found at the crash site.

Although the plane was pulled out of Lake Down on Monday afternoon, the luggage belonging to he father and his daughter still remained.

Emily O’Brien’s brother, 15-year-old Jacob O’Brien, noticed the luggage on the shore and told his family. Upon hearing the news of the plane crash, 9-year-old Emily O’Brien grew sad, but urged her family to help her retrieve the luggage to wash, dry, fold and return the clothes back to the family.

Kristin O’Brien, Emily’s mother, said the clothes had a strong odor of lake water, and Emily O’Brien said it took two days to eliminate the stench. They folded the clothes again and placed it inside the luggage, returning it to the grandfather of the girl, who weeped from gratitude.

Emily O’Brien’s kind deed did not pass without notice as she was recognized and applauded for her thoughtfulness at the Windermere Town Council meeting on July 12.