You are in > manchester.com  > News > Travis Barker 'grateful' to be alive after plane crash

Music

Travis Barker 'grateful' to be alive after plane crash

08/10/2008

Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker has said he is "grateful to be here" after surviving a plane crash that left four people dead.

Barker and DJ Adam Goldstein - who performs as DJ AM - were left with second- and third-degree burns after the Learjet in which they were travelling crashed into a road while trying to take off last month, leaving its pilot, co-pilot and two of Barker's staff dead.

Speaking to Us Weekly magazine while receiving treatment in a Los Angeles burns centre this week, Barker said the crash was the realisation of his "biggest fear ever".

"I am doing the best I can possibly be," he continued. "I'm so anxious to get out of here. I've just been in surgery after surgery. I have third-degree burns basically from my feet up to my waist and both hands."

He explained: "One of my hands has second-degree burns and one has third-degree burns. I'm trying to have a quick recovery and play the drums again, and be able to hold my kids again."

A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said last month that air traffic controllers reported seeing sparks coming off the aircraft as it attempted to leave the runway.

Barker and Goldstein were the only survivors of the crash which led to the deaths of pilot, Sarah Lemmon, 31; co-pilot, James Bland, 52; Barker's assistant, Chris Baker, 29, and Charles Still, 25, Barker's security guard.

South Carolina police lieutenant Josh Shumpert said Barker and Goldstein were forced to slide down the right wing of the crashed aircraft to escape the blaze.