Sunday, October 19, 2003. 1:43pm (AEST)
Authorities have begun investigations into Friday night's rescue helicopter crash that killed three men off Queensland's central coast.
The CQ rescue helicopter was on a routine medical retrival to Hamilton Island off Queensland's central coast when it crashed into the sea near Mackay killing all three on board.
Experts from Brisbane have arrived in the region to begin identifying the remains that were found near the site of a crash that killed the three crew.
Police have released their names - the pilot was New Zealand-born Andrew Carpenter, the crewman were Stewart Eva and paramedic Craig Liddington, all all aged 31.
Investigators are hoping to salvage the Bell 407 chopper to determine what went wrong during a routine medical evacuation from Hamilton Island.
The chopper is now six-and-a-half metres under water about 15 nautical miles north of Mackay near Cape Hillsborough.
Representatives of Bell and engine manufacturer Rolls Royce are on their way to assist in the investigation.
The salvage is expected to take several days with investigators yet to inspect audio and radar tapes in the lead up to the crash.
Queensland Emergency Services Minister Mike Reynolds says it is a shocking accident.
"Every day of the week our emergency services personnel risk their lives for Queenslanders every day, and our heart must be very much out to those who've lost their lives, their families and colleagues as well," he said.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says the State Government will be looking closely at the report into the crash.
But he says his immediate thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
"Every day the paramedics and the services put their lives at risk," he said.
"They are real heroes and my commiserations and the commiserations of all Queenslanders go to the families of those men who tragically lost their lives."
It is the third rescue helicopter crash in central Queensland in the past three years, claiming eight lives.
Five people were killed three years ago when a Capricorn rescue helicopter ran low on fuel and crashed on a property near Marlborough.
One year later, two men escaped death when their rescue chopper ditched into the ocean near Swains Reef off Rockhampton.
Meanwhile, 240 kilometres off the coast of Gladstone, a search is underway for a man who fell overboard last night.
The alarm was raised around midnight when several passengers saw the man fall off the edge of the charter fishing boat.
ABC Online
The report has a picture and video footage of the recovery etc.