By Ron Jeffers

On January 15^th, 2009, sales tech manager Dave Sanderson wrapped up business early in Brooklyn and caught an earlier flight from LaGuardia Airport bound for his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Moments after departure, US Airways Flight 1549 collided with a flock of geese, crippling both engines on its initial climb. Withing a 30-minute time period, the plane landed in the middle of the Hudson River, all passengers and crew were rescued, and Sanderson was entering the emergency room at Palisades Medical Center (PMC) in North Bergen, New Jersey. Sanderson has never forgotten all that participated in his rescue and medical treatment on a day that changed his life forever.

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In January, 2016, Sanderson returned to PMC for a book signing, and he spoke to a room filled with admirers, medical personnel and first responders. The night’s proceeds of “Moments Matter,” went to the PMC Foundation to assist hospital programs. Joseph G. Burt, PMC Foundation executive director, said of Sanderson, “He doesn’t forget the care givers.”

People in New Jersey do one thing really well, “Respond,” Sanderson said at the book signing event. “I feel very passionate about the people in New Jersey.”

One dollar of all future proceeds from the book will be donated to the American Red Cross. Sanderson has a personal goal of raising $1 million for the Red Cross.

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, assisted by his first officer Jeff Skiles, successfully landed the aircraft in the river between Weehawken, New Jersey, and midtown Manhattan, and saved the lives of 155 passengers and crew.

On the Hudson, Sanderson heard the voice of his late mother say, “If you do the right thing, God will take care of you.” So, he stayed behind to help those who needed assistance to get out of the plane. When he reached the exit, there was no room on the wing for him to stand and no room on a boat, as people were being rescued. He assisted others and got off the plane as water rose to his waist in 36 degree water. He swam to the closest ferry and was pulled up to safety.

“The real heroes of the day were the first responders,” Sanderson said to the group at PMC. Emergency crews from the FDNY, NYPD, and U.S. Coast Guard responded as well as from the North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire Department and numerous police and EMS units from the area on the New Jersey side. The first to reach the plane were NY Waterways ferries, followed by FDNY Marine 1-Alpha and North Hudson Marine 1. You couldn’t ask for a better location for a water landing where the ferry terminals are located, and they all rolled in to do their part. North Hudson firefighters boarded one of the ferry boats and went out to assist. The North Hudson Regional department covers the municipalities of Weehawken, Union City, North Bergen, West New York, and Guttenberg.

The way the plane was positioned and the closest point to shore determined where the victims were taken–New York or New Jersey. The left side was facing New York and the right, New Jersey.

First responders radioed ahead to New Jersey reporting Sanderson’s condition. He was in the water for several minutes. When the ferry hit shore, there were three people waiting for him-two local EMTs and a man from the American Red Cross. Sanderson was carried to a triage center at the ferry terminal. He was stripped of his clothes and he heard his EMT say, “I’ll be right back.” He later learned that his helper was North Bergen EMT Heather Bailey. She returned to take his blood pressure and, after a 190/120 reading, he was moved STAT and taken to Palisades Medical Center, a shot distance away along the waterfront. Sanderson said there were 20 to 30 people waiting just for him. He was diagnosed with hypothermia, and it took five hours to warm up.

Out of 150 passengers, only two people stayed overnight at the hospital–Sanderson and Barry Leonard. Leonard was the first passenger out when the evacuation order was given. He jumped into the water and fractured his sternum.

The Sunday following the crash landing, Sanderson realized his new mission in life. He went to his church where everyone wanted to talk to him–a walking miracle. He was asked to speak. At the church breakfast the following Sunday, 600 people showed up to hear the crash victim speak. In the years since the water landing, he has traveled to places like Fort Hood after the shootings, Oklahoma after the tornadoes, and to speak to North Carolina Super Storm Sandy victims.

“I’ve had a chance to talk with people that go through crisis.  It’s often the families who are forgotten, and the Red Cross was there taking care of my family. That’s why I speak so passionately for the Red Cross. That’s where my miracle turned into my mission,” Sanderson said.

Ironically, on the evening that Sanderson held his book signing at the hospital, that same North Hudson tour was on duty that responding to the plane crash. Many members have since retired, been promoted or re-assigned to another shift. The incident commander on the New Jersey side, North Hudson Deputy Chief Dave Curtis, was on duty. The deputy chief, along with off-duty Battalion Chief Robert Morrison, who was on duty as a captain and was on the ferry boat in the Hudson, were present and received autographed books.

Sanderson is now the managing partner of Dave Sanderson Speaks Enterprises. His though and leadership have made him an internationally sought-out speaker.

After he spoke at the hospital, Sanderson showed the assembly a ten minute preview of a film on the landing that is scheduled to be shown on PBS television this summer. In addition, a move about the Miracle on the Hudson has been made staring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood. It has a September 9, 2016, release, according to Sanderson.

Dave Sanderson is a very religious and down-to-earth guy. He never forgot the doctor’s names, Heather the EMT, and all of those on the New Jersey side that came to his immediate aid. Sanderson tells people that they can not only survive a personal crisis, but they can thrive afterward.  

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