Authorities have released the names of two people who died when a North Memorial Health helicopter crashed as it entered the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport on Friday.
Tim McDonald, 44, a Minnesota native who lived in Danbury, Wis., the helicopter's pilot, and Deb Schott, 58, a nurse from Lester Prairie, Minn., died at the scene. Joshua Duda, 42, of Pillager, Minn., a paramedic who was also in the helicopter, was injured.
Duda was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, according to a statement released by North Memorial. His condition has not been disclosed.
No patients were being transported at the time of the crash.
McDonald's and Duda's families have requested privacy, a North Memorial spokeswoman said.
A GoFundMe page established on McDonald's family's behalf says he was married with four children. His home base as a pilot was the Burnett County Airport near Siren, Wis., according to the GoFundMe page.
McDonald, who friends say was born in Bloomington and graduated from Bloomington Jefferson High School and Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, was also president of Zulu Aviation Products in Siren. The company makes lens covers, designed by McDonald, for aviation night-vision goggles, according to the company's website. He had a master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University, the website says.
McDonald was also a paramedic for Allina Health, public records show.
