Abingdon Co. Image displays Retired Air Force Colonel Laurel “Buff” Burkel embracing a fellow serviceman

WHAT IT MEANS TO GO ABOVE & BEYOND

Retired Air Force Colonel Laurel “Buff” Burkel survived a helicopter crash and a broken neck to climb the highest mountain in Africa. Now she’s looking for what’s next

Abingdon Co. Image displays Retired Air Force Colonel Laurel “Buff” Burkel embracing a fellow serviceman

October 11, 2015

Kabul, Afghanistan

Retired Colonel Laurel “Buff” Burkel joined other coalition personnel for a helicopter flight from the airport in Kabul to NATO headquarters, a short journey by air. As the two-helicopter flight approached the destination, the pilots saw that a soccer game was in progress atop the landing zone.

The pilots changed course.

The Crash

Moments into the new route, the rotors on Burkel’s helicopter became ensnared in a surveillance balloon tether. The tether prevented the rotors from holding the 4-ton British Puma Mk 2 helicopter aloft, eventually crashing the copter into the ground at more than 4,000 feet per minute.

The Recovery

Buff was among 5 of 9 souls on board who survived the crash, but suffered serious spinal injuries that required surgery and months of personal physical therapy. Her chances of walking again were remote.

“In my case, I had a broken C2, called a Hangman’s Fracture, like Christopher Reeves, then I had a crushed C 5, 6 disk.”

Once doctors fused her vertebrae together with 4 titanium screws and a bone plug, she spent three months in Halo Traction and the following year regaining her strength. Buff proved the doubters wrong by walking again, but for her, just walking wasn’t enough.

Abingdon Co. Image displaying ©2016 Retired Colonel Laurel “Buff” Burkel in her halo brace. woman sitting with a grey american pattern t shirt and blue jeans sitting down with her left arm up while having a thunbs up wearing a Bahama Blue Marina watch on her right wrist while she had a neck brace smiling.

3 years after the crash she reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro to celebrate her retirement from the military. Retirement has no chance of slowing her down. She’s a motivational speaker for The Wounded Warrior project, and she encourages patients at Shriners Children’s hospitals to overcome similar spinal injuries.

Abingdon Co. Image displaying ©2016 Retired Colonel Laurel “Buff” Burkel at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro

"I was thinking how beautiful it was at Uhuru peak, how truly monumental the accomplishment was - is, grateful that my body weathered the altitude and effort well enough to enjoy it."

What she says about her Abingdon watch

"I've had my watch since June 2015 and I love it! This is my third Abingdon watch and I can't say enough about it. I was wearing my watch on 11 Oct 15, when the British helicopter I was a passenger on crashed in the NATO compound in Kabul. My watch survived, as did I. Completely amazing, given my injuries and the damage to other items I had on my person that day. It is a tribute to the hardy, yet classy, construction, design and style. I've worn my Marina watch every day since the crash - in every uniform combination...a LOT of compliments and people impressed with the sturdiness of the watch."

Front view of the Marina Dive Watch in Bahama Blue by Abingdon Co., aviation, dive, tactical watches for women

What she wears:

Marina Watch

Miyota 8215 Automatic, 40+ Hours Power Reserve, Date Function, 3 Hand