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Brent Beardall, president and CEO of Seattle-based WaFd (Nasdaq: WAFD), says he plans to return to work on Feb. 13 only weeks after surviving a plane crash in Provo, Utah.
He expects to be released from the rehabilitation hospital at University of Utah Health on Feb. 10.
“I will resume my duties at the bank on Feb. 13, which coincides with me getting out of rehab and with our annual meeting the next day,” Beardall told the Business Journal.
Beardall was taken to Utah Valley Medical Center in Provo after surviving the crash at Provo Airport on Jan 2. The plane’s owner and pilot Nathan Ricks was killed in the crash.
Beardall, who was sitting next to Ricks when the plane crashed, said while he is eager to get back to work, there is still a long recovery ahead.
“I look better than I feel because of the amount of internal scarring,” he said. “A third of my face feels like I went to the dentist and had my face numbed. I hope the severed nerves come back over time."
Each of his extremities also suffered injuries, with compound fractures that are healing slowly and still non-weight bearing. He is undergoing extensive physical therapy daily.
“I cannot sing the praises enough of the medical staff who did the surgeries, and my physical therapists now. They know just how hard to push me, and it hurts but they‘re are not doing damage,” he said.
In his downtime, he reaches out to friends and said he's been overwhelmed by the wave of love and support.
“It’s phenomenal how many wonderful people of all different faiths and beliefs are keeping me in their thoughts and prayers, making a tangible difference in my life and I am so sincerely forever grateful,” he said.
His gratitude extends to his colleagues at WaFd who have been in contact throughout his recovery.
“My full-time job right now is to work on getting better," he said. "I feel incredibly blessed to be at WaFd and have this opportunity (to lead).”
Beardall’s wife Jennifer and their three children — Thomas, 25; Caitlyn, 22; and Jack, 16 — have been by his side for weeks. Jack recently returned to Seattle to resume his junior year in high school.
