Father Loses Both Legs After He Throws Body Across Family to Save Them in Snow Blower Accident

A father is now a double amputee and his daughter is recovering after being seriously injured during a family holiday at a popular Californian ski resort.

Dave Miln and his wife Clare were taking 3-year-old Isla and 1-year-old Anna to ski lessons at Mammoth Mountain in Northern California on the morning of Dec. 15 when a

motorized snow blower collided with him and his family. The Australian Defence Force veteran, who had been living in San Diego, Calif., threw his body over his children in

an attempt to prevent them from being pulled into the machine. According to GoFundMe started to help the family following the horrific incident, Dave was able to keep Anna

unharmed, but Isla suffered sustained significant injuries. Clare raised the alarm and authorities were to quickly get the couple's oldest daughter to a local hospital.

Dave, however, spent over an hour in the machine until rescuers were able to free him, "remaining conscious the entire time," resulting in a double amputation, one above

the knee of the left and below the knee on the right, according to family friend and GoFundMe organizer Tsen Bogan. RELATED:  High School Student Saves Money for 2 Years

to Surprise Friend with an Electric Wheelchair Christina Ackerman, the assistant to the chief of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department, confirmed to PEOPLE that officers

responded to a call at 9:08 a.m. on Minaret Road, which is in the vicinity of the popular ski area Mammoth Mountain. Representatives for Mammoth Mountain did not

immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information.