Gwinnett County

Survivor of Gwinnett police helicopter crash now paralyzed

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Gwinnett County Police Department says one of their corporals is now paralyzed following a helicopter crash in September.

The chopper crash happened at Briscoe Field on Sept. 1, when the chopper, carrying Officer George McLain, 38, and Corporal Michael Duncan, 46, went down. Both were taken to the hospital.

McLain, the pilot, was released from the hospital several days after the crash, but Duncan was transferred to Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta. He is currently paralyzed from the waist down.

Photo of the Gwinnett County police helicopter crash 

Gwinnett County officials say Duncan is still having pain but is improving each day. He is working hard with the staff at Shepherd to get back to being as independent as possible.

"We are very hopeful that he will recover and at some point he will return for duty," said Raymer Sale with the Gwinnett Police Foundation. "When police officers get hurt, then the mission changes."

The Gwinnett County Police Foundation will host a golf tournament on Oct. 2 at Chateau Elan.  The proceeds from the tournament will be donated to Duncan.

It is anticipated that his home will need to be modified to accommodate wheel chair access. His family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money.

"People are really thinking about you. We know you are human beings and we appreciate all you do for us," Sale said.