Chopper Down in Lesotho Mountains

[Gunship]

Bodies Brought Ashore

The bodies of the pilot and passenger of the Lesotho defence force helicopter that crashed into the Katse Dam in Lesotho 12 days ago, were brought ashore and flown to the government mortuary in Maseru on Sunday evening.

Lesotho Highlands Water Project spokesperson George van der Merwe said a crane was operated from the shore to lift the helicopter itself off the dam floor, but it would only be brought to the surface on Monday morning.

"Specialist divers from Durban went underwater to retrieve the bodies of the pilot, lieutenant Lererileng Maloi, 30, which was found outside the helicopter. The body of Sethunya Nthako, 50, the engineering manager of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, was found strapped into the back seat of the helicopter," he said.

The helicopter crashed into the dam last Tuesday while flying around a crew filming for a German television station. Sethunya and Maloi went missing after the accident.

The film crew of three escaped from the sinking helicopter and swam to safety.
RIP