Dave Shand is Safe After Almost Dying in Hurricane Irma

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on

You all know Dave Shand - the former Michigan and NHL hockey player who was the morning co-host on WTKA before Sam and Ira. He later sued Bill Martin because he said that Martin told WTKA to fire him.

Anyway, Dave and his wife Alicia were trapped in the U.S. Virgin Islands during Hurricane Irma, and because Dave didn't have access to his heart medication, he apparently came close to dying. You might have seen the story on WXYZ last week, as his sister-in-law Jessica was desperately trying to get them off the island so that Dave could get his medication. You'll find that story here:

http://www.wxyz.com/news/metro-detroit-man-stranded-in-caribbean-in-a-r…

I don't believe WXYZ has done the follow-up, so you all should know that the story has a happy ending.

I've been following the story on Facebook, and I'm happy to report that Dave is safe and sound.  They got on a ship to St. Croix, where Dave was able to get his medication. From there, they traveled to Puerto Rico, and now they're finally flying home.

Dave posted this on Facebook:

"We made it to San Juan. Thank you Captain Carl for the 40 mile boat ride in open seas done in an hour to St. Croix and Danielle for picking us up and arranging a doctors appointment and meds for me with an hours notice. And Jessica Ping. You saved our lives."

Bando Calrissian

September 12th, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^

He got fired for being too controversial on WTKA, IIRC. 1000SSS made the call and Dave was gone. He had this sort of shadow presence for a while, lobbing bombs at Bill Martin from afar. It was pretty great.

He's also witness to one of the best stories I've ever heard about Michigan athletics, concerning the night Red made him walk back to the hotel in the snow up in the UP after Michigan got blasted in a hockey game, ruining his very expensive shoes in the process.

Shand is great. Glad to hear he's OK.

ijohnb

September 12th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^

the person who is about to post that Hurricane Irma was just a thunderstorm, and that the media invented the entire thing, etc. etc. etc., and something something CNN.

Please don't.

The Mad Hatter

September 12th, 2017 at 11:30 AM ^

used somehow in combination with his magical time machine (the one that made him President during hurricane Katrina).

But then I realized it was just the wrath of God.  Major hurricanes last hit in 2005.  Right after something happened in November 2004.  And they only hit the south. 

No major strikes in 2009 or 2013.

Make of that what you will.

M-Dog

September 12th, 2017 at 11:21 AM ^

Always pack extra medicine if you go anywhere tropical during hurricane season.

People don't realize that often the hardest part about a hurricane is the weeks after it without power, medicine, proper sanitation, access to transportation, etc.

You need to be prepared to ride it out for weeks, not just until the eye passes.

 

StraightDave

September 12th, 2017 at 11:48 AM ^

A friend of mine cut his family vacation a week short to get out.    This is what you get when you try and stick it out until the last minute.    You snooze, you lose. 

LSAClassOf2000

September 12th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^

I have actually met Alicia several times in the past, having gone to high school in Saline with her younger brother. Very nice family indeed.

Glad to hear everyone is safe and sound - this story ran several times on local news here in metro Detroit, even with them reporting live when possible. 

 

Goggles Paisano

September 12th, 2017 at 11:57 AM ^

I just went thru the hurricane and it was really intense.  Family and home came thru fine but it completely wrecked my pool cage. I even found some of it my front yard.  Thank God I had shutters or else the cage would have ended up in my bedroom.   Aside from the major damage to the pool area, witnessing that thing was really cool.  The power and energy of that storm is just fascinating.  While only a Cat 2 as it rolled thru my area, I can't even fathom what a Cat 4 or 5 is like.  

I remember Jessica Ping from the mid 90's when I worked in downtown Ann Arbor.  She was gorgeous then and probably still is.  I'm glad to see the happy ending to that story.  

Putt4Birdie

September 12th, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^

I too have been following the story on Facebook and know Alicia and her family.

I remember back in the day her Dad was a Sports agent and had an NFL Player give our Football team a pep talk before the season. Robert Lyles I believe, from the Houstan Oilers. Good times...
Glad they all doing well!