Kid who survived 2 deadly plane crashes, Austin Hatch, made his Michigan basketball debut

Three years ago, then 16-year-old Michigan basketball recruit Austin Hatch was fighting for his life after a single-engine aircraft piloted by his father, Dr. Stephen Hatch (Pain Management Associates in Fort Wayne), had crashed into a garage in Charlevoix. Stephen and Austin's stepmother Kim were killed.

8-year-old Austin had been saved by his father in a crash that occurred in 2003. The National Transportation Safety Board said Stephen, again the pilot, hadn't planned correctly - running out of gas and smashing into a telephone pole. Austin's sister Lindsay, 11, and brother Ian, 5, along with his mother, Julie all burned to death. Austin survived after his dad threw him out the plane's window.

Last year, then 18, Austin made his return to Loyola High School (CA) basketball. It was his first appearance on court since the 2011 crash. So what'd he do? He hit a three.

And yesterday, against Wayne State, Austin made his Michigan debut.



The score doesn't matter.

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