'True hero' killed in plane crash while transporting dogs to animal shelter

Seuk Kim, 49, had been transporting 3 dogs erstwhile his level crashed connected Sunday - helium has been praised by his household and carnal structure employees arsenic idiosyncratic who saved hundreds of animals

A beloved carnal rescue aviator and a canine person died successful a level crash arsenic helium was transporting 3 animals to a shelter.

Seuk Kim, 49, was transporting 3 dogs from Maryland to Albany, successful New York, erstwhile the level crashed successful Windham, successful the state's Catskill Mountains. One of the dogs besides died successful the Sunday clang but 2 managed to survive.

Kim had been acceptable to present the dogs to the no-kill Animal Shelter of Schohaire Valley (ASSV), successful Howes Cave. He was portion of a web of unpaid pilots known arsenic "freedom flight."

The radical transport pets that had been connected euthanasia lists astatine high-kill shelters to different carnal rescue groups. Forever Changed Animal Rescue said Kim flew "countless hours" arsenic helium helped relocate abandoned animals.

ASSV Executive Director Maggie Pryor told CNN: "Over the years, Seuk helped to prevention the lives of hundreds of animals who would person different been euthanized owed to overcrowding astatine carnal shelters." The ASSV said it would oversee the 2 dogs' aesculapian recoveries up of being enactment up for adoption.

A station shared connected its Facebook leafage contiguous said: "Seuk was a existent leader for the carnal rescue community. We were blessed to enactment with him connected aggregate rescue flights and his shining airy volition beryllium missed by truthful many...He lived his beingness to assistance others and genuinely made this world a amended place."

An obituary for Kim on everloved.com described him arsenic a "bright light" who was "witty, spontaneous and afloat of boundless generosity." It continued: "From a young age, Seuk dreamed of taking to the skies, and helium made that imagination a world by becoming a pilot.

"He recovered immense joyousness successful flying and utilized his passionateness to assistance others, including his caller enactment with a non-profit enactment dedicated to rescuing and transporting dogs to harmless homes. Seuk was much than conscionable a pilot; helium was a champion for others, a person to all, and a profoundly loved subordinate of his family.

"He loved to cook, helium was an avid shot instrumentality and supra all, helium loved his household with each his being. His bodacious spirit, generous heart, and endless capableness for emotion volition beryllium profoundly missed by his wife, Anna, 3 kids, parents, sibling, Sejin, mother, extended family, and countless friends."

A fundraiser connected the website has seen donations flood successful pursuing Kim's death. As of Wednesday evening, $57,258 (£45,162) has been raised successful donations.