The helicopter pilot who survived a dramatic crash at Auckland Viaduct has returned to the air, one week after the flight that almost ended his life.
Greg Gibble back in the seat today
Greg Gribble was back in pilot's seat for the first time today, and he was particularly safety conscious.
Last Wednesday he walked away virtually unscathed from a crash while installing part of the Telecom Christmas Tree in downtown Auckland.
Gribble was thrown halfway out of the B2 Squirrel helicopter which also missed several people standing below.
This morning he was back in the seat for the first time since the crash, accompanied by ONE News reporter Jack Tame.
"You guys are pretty game coming up with me, you realise that, especially today," said Gribble. And after 20 years piloting helicopters, he admitted he had never felt so nervous. "It definitely shatters your confidence...a lot of mixed emotions," he said.
The footage has wracked up more than 100,000 online views and Gribble said "it's a humbling thing to have the world watch your own near death experience".
It took a few days after he had been cleared of injuries for the adrenalin and shock to wear off.
"For those first 15 minutes where you're trying to go to sleep, you just relive it over and over and over again."
Civil Aviation is still investigating and Gribble's family business will get by over summer with its other helicopter.
A replacement helicopter costs about $1.5 million but it is not a simple process to get a new one and it will be several months before the business is back to its full complement.
"Getting over the emotional side of things is probably the main thing," said Gribble who also admitted that going out flying today had "helped a lot".