The six minutes to shore may be generous.
Two days after the crash, a KITV4 News video reported: "Before beginning his mile-long swim back to shore, Hollstein noticed State Health Director Loretta Fuddy clinging to her deputy, Keith Yamamoto."
We can see Hollstein's "noticing" at the 10:13 mark in the video. A mere 4 minutes, 38 seconds later, he is seen trudging the last yards to shore, his life jacket more than a foot out of the water.
At the 10:13 mark, the videographer's lenses are pointed out to sea, with Holstein perhaps 20 yards away. Hollstein is seen a couple more times prior to 14:51, as the former Green marks passes by the videographer, some 10 yards to the west of him. In the last minute or so of Hollstein's swim, the videographer is pointing his lenses toward land.
Hollstein exited the water no far from the approach end of Runway 5.
On his FaceBook page, the videographer does undercut Hollstein's "mile-long swim" by using the phrase "we were about about a half mile out from land," which was of course untruthful as well, but since he was poised somewhat in the midst of Hollstein's path, what he said bears some semblance to the truth. Not to be completely out-done by Hollstein's incredible exaggeration, the videographer more fully wrote: We were about half mile out from land. In my thought process I told myself "I can make that swim". So, I said I'm going to try and head towards the shore. Another person was about to do the same trek to shore. Thats when we broke away from the group to make it to shore. I was constantly mumbling to myself that "I swam farther than this before, I can make it!".
For what it's worth, there was no mumbling to be heard on the videographer's recording as he progresses toward shore.
The salvor said the wreck was found over a 100-foot debris-field some 200-300 yards from shore. Where the plane occupants where as Hollstein began his trek was about 85 yards SW of the plane. A reasonably close estimate of the length of Hollstein's swim to shore: 200 yards.
What storytellers that pair make! With their 1/2 mile and mile times, they both could have rewritten the World and Olympic record books!
FOR THE RECORD: FROM THE ARCHIVES:
Plane crash passengers share their stories of survival
Posted: Dec 14, 2013 1:57 PM
Updated: Dec 14, 2013 2:16 PM
By Tim Sakahara - bio | email
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Some of the survivors of Wednesday’s fatal plane crash from Kalaupapa to Honolulu are speaking out about the frightening experience.
Flip Holstein says he doesn’t want to sound cavalier but he says fear never came into the picture for him. There was no time. He was focused on survival.
“I know we were going in the drink. We were way too far out to think about gliding back so I gave the seatbelt one more synch and hung on for the ride,” said Flip Holstein, Action Fire Sprinklers Corp. President, who was working in Kalaupapa and was returning to Oahu.
Hollstein is used to falling from the sky. He has skydived 12,000 times in his life. But he’s not used to going down in a plane crash.
“It was a bang, thud sound and then we’re in a glide. There was no smoke, no fire. It got quiet after that,” said Hollstein.
He says no one was panicking or screaming. The pilot skillfully glided down and hit the water the best way possible. Everyone made it out on their own. They stayed with the plane until it sank. After about 30 minutes Hollstein could barely see Molokai so he decided to swim for shore, about half a mile away.
“I was tired of hanging around, bobbing like a cork so I figured I’d head for the shoreline,” said Hollstein. “I could see where I needed to be going but after an hour and a half I started having second thoughts but I figured I’m not stopping now. I could tell I was getting closer. Then all the sudden I was there.”
At that time the rescuers were saving the other passengers. He says he was surprised to hear Health Director Loretta Fuddy had died because she was alive and alert when he started swimming for shore.
“I’m just sort of guessing she had a heart attack because she had inflation gear on. She was able to get out of the plane on her own,” said Hollstein.
“I was thinking that is it. I am going to die out here in the ocean,” said Rosa Key, crash survivor.
Rosa and Jacob Key were also on the plane and feared for the worst. But now they have a new perspective on life.
“It has opened my eyes and a reminder to have quality time with the ones you love,” said Rosa Key.
“I’m thinking that’s all. I’m dead. Now it’s like another chance at life. A second life,” said Jacob Key, crash survivor.
Hollstein and the Keys came out with just some scrapes and soreness but are otherwise completely fine. They thank all the people of Kalaupapa, the rescuers and pilots who spotted them.