Groom killed in helicopter crash after leaving marriage ceremony as bride survives beneath his physique
Dave Fiji, 25, had just married Jessni in Dawsonville, Georgia in the US in the ‘perfect wedding’ when disaster struck during what should have been the start of their honeymoon
The tragedy happened on the day of their wedding (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
A newlywed groom was killed in a horror helicopter crash just moments after leaving his wedding with his new wife, who miraculously survived after waking up trapped beneath the wreckage.
Dave Fiji, 25, after he and bride Jessni departed their wedding venue in Dawsonville, Georgia in the US. Hundreds of friends and family had gathered to celebrate the couple tying the knot on Friday last week (May 29).
The pair had just enjoyed what relatives described as the “perfect wedding” before disaster struck during what should have been the start of their honeymoon. Speaking to WSB-TV, Dave’s dad George described the celebrations as the “perfect wedding”, adding, “We couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The newlyweds had planned to leave the wedding venue at around 9.30pm before travelling via chopper to Atlanta, where they were set to begin their honeymoon together. But the flight was reportedly delayed due to poor weather, with fog causing concern before the helicopter eventually took off.
According to his father, Dave – who was himself a pilot – had doubts about flying in the less-than-ideal conditions. “He said, ‘I wouldn’t fly, we would not fly in this visibility,’” George said.
Despite concerns over the weather, Dave and Jessni eventually decided to continue with the journey as the pilot planned to avoid the fog by flying at a higher altitude. But minutes after the trio took off, the helicopter dropped out of the sky before crashing into a nearby wooded area.
Dave and the pilot were killed in the crash, while Jessni survived and regained consciousness among the wreckage, where she found herself trapped. “She said when she woke up, she was under the rubble,” George said.
“She woke up and saw him lying on her chest. She herself is a nurse. When she touched him, she called out to him. He was already cold.” The newlywed bride remained trapped at the crash site for around five hours before rescuers finally located the wreckage and were able to free her.
Despite the severity of the accident, Jessni escaped the deadly crash with only minor cuts and bruises and did not suffer any major injuries. She was taken to hospital where she stayed for several days.
The tragedy has left relatives devastated as they struggle to come to terms with losing the 25-year-old just hours after his wedding day. Dave’s mother Pheba said the family remains “devastated” by the loss.
She told local media: “He was kind, he was gentle, he was selfless. Those were her words. We have the confidence that God perfected the work that he started in his life.
“He was a precious child, he was a gift from God for us,” George added. “He was a God-fearing child. So handsome, beautiful.”
Dave and Jessni first met a decade ago through their church. The exact cause of the helicopter crash remains unclear. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the incident.
