Dave Miln: California dad-of-two loses both legs in snow blower accident while saving his daughters
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIFORNIA: A man is now a double amputee after suffering catastrophic injuries in a snow blower accident while on vacation with his family at a well-known ski resort in California, while his daughter will be making a full recovery. On December 15, 2022, Dave Miln and his wife, Clare, were traveling to Mammoth Mountain in Northern California for ski lessons with their children, three-year-old Isla and one-year-old Anna, when a motorized snow blower struck them.
The former member of the Australian Defence Force, who had been residing in San Diego, California, flung himself over his children to prevent them from getting sucked into the machine. According to a GoFundMe created to aid the family after the terrible tragedy, Miln was able to keep Anna safe, but Isla was seriously hurt. Authorities were ordered to urgently transport the couple's oldest daughter to a nearby hospital after Clare called for help.
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Tsen Bogan, a family friend and GoFundMe organizer, said that Miln remained within the machine for more than an hour before rescuers were able to extract him, "remaining conscious the entire time," leading to a double amputation, one above the knee on the left and below the knee on the right, PEOPLE reported.
Officers responded to a call at 9.08 am on Minaret Road, which is close to the well-known ski resort, according to Christina Ackerman, assistant to the chief of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department. Miln was sent to Reno for treatment and the brave father also sustained a number of fractures and had over 10 surgeries in the last three weeks with many more anticipated. Despite his life-changing injuries, "Dave still maintains his dark sense of humor and razor-sharp wit," Bogan wrote, adding, "[He has] shown strength and resilience beyond comprehension."
Isla, meanwhile, underwent a number of surgeries as well but is anticipated to fully recover. "The family has banded together with positive determination for the future," Bogan wrote on January 21 adding that Dave still had a long way to go interms of recovering in Australia.
In a previous update, Bogan explained, "Isla is still in her wheelchair but appears to be slowly getting back to her old self smiling more and asserting herself a little more. She is such a strong and brave girl. Anna is doing her best to be…a little sister who knows her sister can't chase her…for now."
When it comes to Dave's wife Clare, she was taking care of the family by being "brave, courageous, and quite frankly using every ounce of strength she has to hold life together," Bogan said, adding, "She is doing her best keeping the girls busy with visits to see Daddy, trips to the park and play dates with friends to keep the fighting spirits of the girls up."
The lengthy process of Miln's rehabilitation is the focus of the GoFundMe fundraiser, which as of January 23 had amassed more than $60,000 in donations. Some of the planned uses for funds include "vehicle modifications for Dave, household equipment and modification and other bits and pieces that Dave will need in adapting to his disability." Bogan wrote, "While Dave learns to run again (and we all know he will!) please donate generously so their strength and energy is focused purely on healing together."