When life deals a hand most of us can’t even imagine, how do you go on? For Austin Hatch, the answer is simple yet profound: with purpose, love, and an unshakable will to honor those he’s lost.
At just eight years old, Austin’s life took a devastating turn. While flying in his family’s single-engine plane, tragedy struck. The aircraft hit a utility pole in Indiana, claiming the lives of his mother Julie, his 11-year-old sister Lindsay, and his 5-year-old brother Ian.
“It was a loss beyond words,” Austin shared with PEOPLE. “My dad and I tried to move forward, but you don’t ‘get through’ something like that—you just learn to live in a new reality.”
Despite the heartbreak, Austin and his father Stephen slowly rebuilt their lives. But fate wasn’t finished testing him.
In 2011, Austin had just earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan when disaster struck again. On their way to their lake house, the family’s new plane stalled and crashed into a garage. This time, Austin’s father and stepmother, Kim, lost their lives. Austin was left fighting for his own.
With a punctured lung, broken collarbone, and severe brain trauma, he spent two months in a medically induced coma. Doctors didn’t expect him to make it.
But he did.
“The odds of surviving two plane crashes are 1 in 11 quadrillion,” Austin said. “I shouldn’t have made it, but I did. There has to be a reason for that.”
After months of grueling therapy, Austin relearned how to walk, talk, and eat. Then, he did something extraordinary—he went on to attend the University of Michigan, where he met the love of his life, Abby.
Their connection was instant. A political science class brought them together, and within months they were inseparable. They tied the knot soon after graduating and began dreaming of a family.
That dream came true on Austin’s 28th birthday in October 2022, when their son Hudson was born after two years of IVF. “She’s an incredible wife,” Austin said of Abby. “I don’t think my mindset is because of what I’ve lost, but it’s definitely given me a deeper appreciation for her.”
Abby, now 27, sees Austin’s purpose shining through in everything he does. “After what he’s been through, he knows he’s here for a reason,” she said. “For him, it’s about family—honoring the ones he’s lost and cherishing the ones here.”
Today, Austin has left his corporate job to become a motivational speaker, sharing his story of resilience with schools, churches, and businesses. “I want to help people see that no matter what, you can find strength to move forward,” he explained.
Through it all, Austin carries the memory of his loved ones with him. “Everything I do is to keep their spirit alive,” he said.
It’s a story of unimaginable loss, but also one of hope, love, and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. Austin’s journey reminds us all: no matter the odds, there’s always a way to keep going.
What would you do if faced with impossible odds? Share Austin’s inspiring journey with your friends—you never know who might need to hear it today.
