Community remembering men who died in medical helicopter crash as heroes

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. (WBMA) — Two men were killed in a medical helicopter crash. Lifesaver 4 out of Sylacauga was responding to a call Sunday evening when it crashed while landing, near Highway 280 in Chelsea.

Three crew members were on board. Adam Russell of Goodwater and Marc Gann of Sylacauga died. The third crew member remains hospitalized.

SEE RELATED: Two killed in medical helicopter crash in Shelby County

Russell was the registered nurse on board and Gann was the pilot.

Both men left a lasting impact in their community and also worked at area fire departments, prior to working on Lifesaver 4.

"Adam was a part time firefighter with the Sylacauga Fire Department, beginning in 2005, and was a part time firefighter with us over 15 years. He was like most first responders are, selfless kind of guy. Gave his heart and his life to his community," said Sylacauga Fire Chief Nate Osgood. "He was a great paramedic and those are hard to come by, day in and day out, being there to help people in their time of need."

Osgood and the men at SFD shared memories they had with Russell, including one time they bathed an elephant together.

"Not long after I began my career here at the Sylacauga fire department, he and I were on shift together and went out for a run together and I didn’t have running shoes, so I had to try to keep up with him in my uniform boots, which was no easy task, because he was a runner," said Osgood. "You never met someone like Adam and didn't fall in love with him. He was a great guy all around."

Both the loss of Russell and Gann hit the community hard.

Everyone said these two men loved their jobs and loved the people they served.

"It's an international brotherhood and anytime you have emergency services personnel, killed in the line of duty, it's an extremely tough pill to swallow," said Osgood. "It's a knife through the heart, but were coming to terms with it. That doesn't happen in one night, one week, it takes a long time for that healing to happen."

Gann had served as an attack helicopter pilot in the army for 20 years.

He also spent time at Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department. Gann worked there four years before becoming the assistant chief from 2013-2015.

"Anybody that interacted with Marc knew marc was a really good guy. He was down to earth, just a great guy to hang out with, be around, like I said he had that leadership role, and the younger guys looked up to him and it affected them really bad," said Oak Grove VFD Chief Charlie O'Barr. "They looked at Marc as a father figure while he was there."

O'Barr said Gann was an outstanding pilot.

"I was actually privileged to do a ride along with lifesaver with Marc as the pilot. That was the fondest memory I have with Marc. Him walking me around the aircraft showing me different things about it, that I remember the most," said O'Barr. "Just about anyone that knew Marc knew he was the pilot and could tell you he could put the helicopter anywhere he wanted it, and he could."

O'Barr said he knew all three crew members on Lifesaver 4, and they were heroes.

"Just like we said for Adam, Mark died doing what he loved and died a hero," said Osgood.

The helicopter crash is still under investigation.