Farage survives plane crash

On the day of the UK general election, UKIP former leader Nigel Farage survives a plane crash with only minor injuries. In his own words he was "lucky to be alive".

From the BBC

The former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage said he was "lucky to be alive" after his plane crashed in Northamptonshire.

The aircraft came down at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield near Brackley.
Mr Farage is being treated at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for broken ribs and other minor injuries. Pilot, Justin Adams, is also in hospital.

It is thought the aircraft came down when a trailing campaign banner became entangled.
'Trapped in wreckage'

Party leader Lord Pearson said Mr Farage had been visited by his wife in hospital.

He said: "Despite being in considerable pain, we deduce that Nigel is back to something like his normal form.
"We also understand that the injuries to the pilot, Justin Adams, may be less serious than previously feared though we have been unable to speak to his family.

"It is clear that both men had a remarkably lucky escape." 

This incident prompting one of his political opponents to write this tribute:

Nigel Farage always hated flying

He especially loathed having to take the tiny propellor-powered plane that was the only direct route to Strasbourg before the fast train link. But he bore those journeys with good-humoured stoicism, as he did most of the disagreeable aspects of our job.

Nigel is, I suppose, my chief rival in the South East. But he has always acted as a gentleman towards political opponents, and I like to think we have become friends. Nigel is in politics for the best possible reason: patriotism. He gave up a lucrative career to stand for the European Parliament, and there are plenty of other, more rewarding, things he could be doing.

It is typical of the man that, as he came round, his first words were to ask after the pilot. I hope all of us, whatever our parties, will join in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.

Not long ago, he made this daring speech against the EU's new president:



And here, a recent interview with Jeremy Paxman:




This is a very lucky escape for someone who, in his stand against political correctness, could be described as the closest thing to a British Allen West or Geert Wilders. And an equally lucky escape for Britain, close to losing one of its only politicians willing to tell the truth as they see it.