Injured pilot sends message to Wānaka kids

Sue Wards / Wānaka App

Former Wānaka resident Don Grant has recently survived an aircraft crash, but he had made it a priority to get a message to the children of Wānaka primary school Te Kura o Take Karara, for whom he was a bus driver.

Don’s wife Nicky told the Wānaka App this week that Don wants to let all the students know he’s OK.

“He sends his love and wants to let them know he will come right eventually,” Nicky said. “He’s in the best place.”

Don (60) is currently in ICU at Dunedin Hospital, where he has undergone a range of surgeries following the aircraft crash in the Dingle Burn Valley (near Lake Hāwea) on Saturday, March 29.

“He’s improving each day,” Nicky said.

“He was beginning to talk yesterday and giving the nurses a hard time. It’s going to be a long haul for him.”

Nicky said Don is “gutted” about his friend Ivan van de Water, who died in the crash.

Don was cut from the wreckage of the aircraft and flown to Dunedin Hospital.

Nicky said she had been “just amazed” at the support Don has had from the Wānaka community, including the Wānaka Airport. Don is chair of the Wānaka Airport Users Group.

“So many people have been absolutely incredible, offering their help,” Nicky said.

Warbirds Over Wānaka general manager Ed Taylor told the Wānaka App that Don had been volunteer manager at the 2024 airshow.

“He was a great volunteer manager because he loves people - and he has aviation knowledge in spades.”

Don is also a “relentlessly positive” person, Ed said.

“If having a relentlessly positive attitude counts for anything then Don will pull through.”