At around 3:15 p.m on November 6, an eight-seat private ambulance helicopter lost control before crashing onto the roof of Keck Hospital in a residential Boyle Heights neighborhood, Los Angeles. The helicopter tilted to one side, fortunately the three people sitting on top were able to escape.
Fire force spokesman Margaret Stewart said the pilot was slightly injured, the other two did not have any health problems and refused treatment. The people standing outside the helipad also had no injuries.
According to hospital officials, the helicopter carried an organ donor’s heart to the hospital in preparation for a major surgery. Video of the incident showed rescuers quickly saved organs trapped inside the helicopter.
After using hydraulic pliers to cut through the metal shell to get the heart out, the rescuers handed it over to a medical officer. This doctor quickly turned around, intending to hurry to the hospital. However, he stumbles on the wreckage of the helicopter and drops his heart on the ground.
The dramatic situation caused many people to “fear heartburn” and run to support the doctor as well as pick up the heart. Fortunately the heart is not damaged. Keck Hospital later claimed the heart was still transplanted.