The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

HERBERT Brown, Public Hospitals Authority Managing Director, yesterday said the death of Franhkan Cooper, one of the nine people killed in Sunday’s tragic plane crash in Grand Bahama, was “a bitter pill” to swallow as he remembered the 34-year-old as an employee with a heart for service.

Franhkan, an anaesthetic assistant at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), was co-piloting the ill-fated flight with senior pilot Stanley Thurston.

Also in the Lear Jet were President and Founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI) Dr Myles Munroe and his wife, Ruth-Ann. Mr Thurston was Dr Munroe’s long time, personal pilot.

The PHA said Mr Cooper began working at PMH on March 5, 2003.

“The Public Hospitals Authority mourns the loss of one of its own,” Mr Brown said in a press statement. “We are devastated at the loss of such a bright light in the PHA.”

He said the tragedy was hard for the PHA as Mr Cooper’s parents and sister also work for the institution.

“When you have a family that collectively brings a positive level of service to an organisation that speaks both to the professional and personal responsibility we all have, you call that a blessing. We at the PHA saw how a father, mother, son and daughter could make a difference in their individual and collective commitment to serve the Bahamian people.”

Mr Brown, who said the loss has stunned the PHA, asked for the prayers of the country as they and the immediate family grieve.

According to a press release sent on behalf of BFMI yesterday, Mr Thurston, who was an experienced pilot, served for many years as Dr Munroe’s personal pilot.

The church asked for continued prayers and support. It is expected to soon release details on plans for funerals and other matters relating to the future of Bahamas Faith Ministries.

Dr Richard Pinder, BFMI’s vice-president, Lavard “Manifest” Parks, his wife Radel, both BFMI youth pastors, and their five-year-old son Johannan were also passengers, it has been confirmed. Another unidentified man was also on board the aircraft which crashed in a junk yard around 5:10pm on Sunday after clipping a crane at the Grand Bahama Shipyard.