A firefighting helicopter has crashed into a dam in the Scenic Rim, in Queensland's third chopper crash this year, but the pilot was able to escape safely.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) confirmed that the helicopter was undertaking water-bombing activities when it ditched into the water shortly before 3pm, on a private property in Tarome.
The male pilot, and sole occupant, was able to escape the wreckage and swim to shore where he is currently being assessed by paramedics.
An RACQ LifeFlight Rescue chopper airlifted the man to Toowoomba Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and remains in a stable condition.
The helicopter was hovering close to the water, collecting some to fight a blaze in Tregony, when it hit the surface and rolled.
There was no other aircraft nearby at the time of the incident, but QFES said the chopper was one of three helicopters battling the fire at the time of the crash.
QFES confirmed the Southern Downs fire, near Cunninghams Gap, has been burning since last weekend.
The extent of the damage, and cause of the crash, is unknown at this time but QFES said it would assist the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with its investigation.
Evan Christensen was first on the scene after the chopper crashed into his dam, where it remains submerged underwater.
"I was about a kilometre away at my father's house, but I could see a fair bit of it from there," the cattle farmer said.
"[The chopper] was below the dam line, filling his bucket, then there was a loud noise and spray from the dam came up, so I knew he was in trouble."
Mr Christensen said the crash made a "massive noise, and then it all just went quiet".
"I checked to see there was no one in the chopper with him, and he wanted to use the phone and make a phone call."
The chopper crashed into a dam on a private property.
(ABC News)The farmer kept an eye out to make sure he didn't go into shock, but the pilot "was very calm".
"We didn't get much time to talk at all, there were a few phone calls coming in," Mr Christensen said.
"I think he knew how lucky he was to get out of it, happy to be alive."
QFES Acting Assistant Commissioner for the south-eastern region, Mark Stuart, said the pilot was "extremely lucky" to have survived.
"This highlights the dangers that all our firefighters, both on the ground and in the air, face," he said.
"He was very fortunate to get out of the wreckage and swim to shore.
"With a number of fires burning around the state, all aircraft are necessary to combat [them], so being short one aircraft will have some impact."
The rural dam had been used by firefighting helicopters in 2019 fires, but this is the first time they'd returned to the property this season.
"The dam probably covers about seven acres in size and surface area," Mr Christensen said.
"A lot of evaporation lately, [so] it's probably down about half half its volume."
Police told the farmer not to use the dam water while investigations unfold, for fear of water contamination.
"I believe insurance will be coming tomorrow to assess what's going on, and to get the chopper out.
"So I'll see what information they give me about fuel in the water, and go from there."