any back pain? >> both of them were pretty bloody. i was really amazed there weren't more injury to them. >> reporter: they both broke several bones in their back. to cnn frank said john was a hero. he went into a burning plane to save us. he saved my life and my wife's because i know she would have stayed trying to help me. >> do you play that moment over and over again in your head? >> i play all the what ifs, going slower or going faster. it could have been a different turnout. we just had lots of angels. so i feel very blessed that i was safe and i was able to render care to them. >> reporter: an instance of the right place, right time measured in millimeters and seconds, stephanie elam, cnn, avalon, california.