Wreckage of a small plane that crashed at the foot of the Vancouver International airport in Richmond, B.C. October 27, 2011.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail
A second person has now died following last month's fiery crash of a small commuter plane near Vancouver International Airport.
Vancouver Coastal Health spokeswoman Tiffany Akins confirms 26-year-old Matt Robic died Wednesday after suffering severe burns in the Oct. 27 crash.
Mr. Robic was the co-pilot of the Northern Thunderbird Air turbo prop that was returning to Vancouver airport after reporting an oil leak when it went down on a road just outside the airport perimeter.
Civilian rescuers were the first on the scene and pulled out the seven passengers but both Mr. Robic and 44-year-old Luc Fortin were trapped in the burning cockpit.
Mr. Fortin died of his injuries hours later and Mr. Robic suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body, but the other victims are recovering, although still receiving rehabilitation treatment.
As an investigation continues into the cause of the crash, the provincial government has announced plans to honor those who rushed to help the crash victims.