Former NFL wide receiver Kole Heckendorf survived a plane crashing into the house in which he was staying on Friday.
According to Kia Farhang of the Dickinson Press, Heckendorf and his brother-in-law Jeff Hille had returned home from a golf tournament to Hille’s residence on Friday afternoon. Heckendorf was alone in the house after 8 p.m. upstairs in a bedroom when a small plane crashed into the house.
“I didn’t really have time to do anything,” Heckendorf said.
Heckendorf was knocked off his feet but was able to climb out of the house through an upstairs window. However, the two people on board the plane were killed and Heckendorf’s dog, Storm, also was killed in the crash. In addition, the house was full of furniture awaiting the Heckendorfs’ move into a new house. All of which was lost in the fire.
Heckendorf played for five teams during his brief NFL career. A standout for North Dakota State University, Heckendorf signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He was released by the Packers during the preseason and was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad. He also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts over his three years, but never appeared in a regular season game.
