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How I survived a plane crash

Jerry Schemmel, the voice of MLB’s Colorado Rockies, on surviving the United Airlines Flight 232 crash, losing his best friend and heroically rescuing an 11-month-old baby

Jerry Schemmel is the voice of baseball’s Colorado Rockies. As a renowned play by play radio announcer for the MLB, Jerry is warming up for a new season that will see him travel all over the USA.

Travelling was part of his role when he was working for the Continental Basketball Association back in July 1989 when he got on United Airlines Flight 232 to Chicago… But the plane never arrived, in fact it crashed killing over 100 people. Jerry tells Caroline Barker his remarkable story of survival, loss and heroism. After escaping the plane, Jerry returned to the wreckage to rescue an 11-month-old baby, but could do nothing to help his best friend Jay Ramsdell, who he had been traveling with.

Photo: An engine and debris sit in a corn field after United Airlines Flight 232 crashed and broke into pieces July 19, 1989, while attempting to make an emergency landing at the Sioux City Gateway Airport. Of the 296 people on board, 111 were killed in the crash leaving 185 survivors. The flight was going from Denver to Chicago. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images

Release date:

Duration:

22 minutes