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The nurse killed in a horror plane crash in WA’s far north has been remembered in a touching tribute as humble, hard-working and the “most caring person”.
Johnson Makuei Mangar died after the Beechcraft Baron 58 charter plane he was a passenger in crashed while trying to land at Kununurra airport on Saturday.
He died at the scene, while a 29-year-old male Aviair pilot was flown to Royal Darwin Hospital with severe injuries and burns.
The pilot was confirmed as being “critical, but stable” just before midday on Sunday.
Mr Mangar’s cousin Thomas told The West Australian the tight-knit Sundanese community in WA was “in a deep state of shock”.
He said Mr Mangar had been a registered nurse for 15 years and was also a community leader and the secretary of an African church.
“Johnson was a great man and he lived a great life ... (it’s) a huge loss,” he said.
He said Mr Mangar sadly left behind a very young family.
Mr Mangar was remembered by others as a “truly caring” leader and “community icon”.
Those close to him believe they had been “robbed” of a pillar of their community as many woke to the tragic news on Easter Sunday.
“Losing a great mind a personality is (a) total setback for the community,” one person said.
Mr Mangar’s LinkedIn page reveals he studied a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health at Edith Cowan University between 2008 and 2011.
He was believed to be from the greater Perth area.
The WA Country Health Service confirmed a NurseWest employee had died in the crash.
WACHS acting regional manager Robert Pulsford said the man and his family were “front of mind for our entire organisation”.
“We are doing everything that we can to support them at this difficult time,” he wrote in an email.
Premier Mark McGowan also offered his condolences following the crash.
“My heart goes out to all those caught up in what is a tragic situation,” Mr McGowan said.