Alexander Wurm, founder of Ignite the Fire Ministry, and his daughter Serena, 22, were killed while delivering hurricane relief supplies to Jamaica when the small plane he was flying crashed in south Florida Monday.
The 1976 Beech B11 plane Wurm had been piloting crashed into a lake behind a home in Coral Springs shortly after a 10am takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
The plane had been bound for Montego Bay International Airport, the latest in a series of flights it had made to carry supplies to hurricane-stricken communities in Jamaica.
According to media reports, divers entered the water Monday to search the lake but no bodies were found.
Mike Moser, deputy chief of Coral Springs Fire Rescue, told the Associated Press news agency that a 911 call at 10:19am reported that a plane had crashed into a lake in the Windsor Bay neighborhood along Creekside Drive. It did not hit any homes, he said.
“There was no actual plane to be seen. They followed the debris trail to the water. We had divers that entered the water and tried to search for any victims and didn’t find any,” he told AP.
‘Devoted to serving others’
Ignite the Fire confirmed Monday night that Wurm, 53, and his daughter had died in crash while delivering humanitarian aid to Jamaica.
“Alexander, known for his warmth and unwavering kindness, devoted his life to serving others – both through his actions and by sharing the gospel of Jesus across the globe,” a statement issued by the ministry read.
It continued, “Throughout his life, Alex travelled extensively, reaching various countries and continents, where he tirelessly worked to bring faith, compassion, and support to those in need. His legacy of faith and compassion touched countless lives.
“There are not enough words to describe him. He wasn’t just a man of prayer – he lived it, fasting, and listening for God’s voice like it was the most natural conversation. He gave so freely, not just of his time or money, but of his very self, always ready to lend an ear or a hand.”
Light the Fire noted that Serena had followed in her father’s footsteps, and “was a beacon of empathy and hope, inspiring all with her commitment to humanitarian work”.
It added, “Together, their final journey embodied selflessness and courage, reminding us of the power of service and love.”
AP reported that the flight tracking website FlightAware shows the plane had made four other trips to or from Jamaica in the past week, travelling between George Town in Grand Cayman and Montego Bay and Negril in Jamaica, before landing in Fort Lauderdale on Friday.
AP reported that Kenneth DeTrolio told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that he and his wife were in their home when the plane crashed through their backyard, destroying his fence and toppling palm trees before hitting the water. He said the impact left debris scattered across his yard.
“We heard the strangest sound. I never heard anything like it before, and apparently that was when this plane must have flown between my home and my neighbor’s house,” DeTrolio told the newspaper.
‘He saved lives’
Sean Malone, of Crisis Response International, with whom Wurm and Ignite the Fire had been working to bring relief supplies to Jamaica, in a video statement, said, “We are in absolute shock and disbelief at the situation.”
The organisation said Wurm had been bringing in materials, like water filters and Starlink internet kits, and other items it could not get elsewhere, in repeated trips, flying back to the island “again and again”.
“He had a huge vision and heart for the people of the Caribbean nations and when this hurricane happened, he didn’t hesitate, he sprung into action and did what he could with what he had in his hand,” Malone said.
He added, “I just want his family to know, and those who knew him, that he really made a difference to the lives of the people on the ground. By getting the resources in that he did, he saved lives and he gave his life for the people of the nations that were on his heart.”
Wurm is survived by his wife Candace, and two children, son James, 17, and daughter Christiana, 20.
