The Pheonix
25th Apr 2011, 02:06
Woman killed in Lilli Pilli chopper crash
ABC April 25, 2011, 5:32 am
Authorities are trying to find the wreckage from a helicopter crash that killed an elderly woman on the New South Wales south coast.
Police and emergency services were called to Lilli Pilli, south of Batemans Bay, after hearing reports a helicopter crashed into the water about 50 metres off the coast.
Surf lifesavers rushed to the scene, about 6pm AEST on Sunday, and found a man and a woman in the water.
They tried to revive the 72-year-old woman but she died at the scene.
The pilot, a 72-year-old man, was winched to safety by a rescue helicopter and treated for hypothermia.
A search is continuing for the wreckage of the R44 helicopter.
Witnesses have been urged to contact police. A report is also being prepared for the Coroner.
Surf livesaving spokesmans Andrew Edmonds says witnesses were quick to respond.
"A number of people from the Lilli Pilli area swam out with torches to... provide visibility to rescuers above and also basically help lifesavers who were in inflatable boats know where they were," Mr Edmonds said.
"Members of the public pulled the pilot on to the rocks and that pilot was later winched by the helicopter to the ambulance and treated for mild hypothermia."
Investigators due at fatal chopper crash
Specialist investigators are due soon at the scene of a fatal helicopter crash on the New South Wales far south coast.
The chopper plunged into water off Lilli Pilli beach, south of Batemans Bay, last night.
The 72-year-old pilot from nearby Malua Bay was rescued suffering mild hypothermia but his 70-year-old wife died at the scene.
Police Inspector Greg Flood says there are no plans to bring the wreckage ashore until late this afternoon.
"We've got water police out there at the moment securing the scene," he said.
"The helicopter is still at the scene.
"It is in a reef area there around from Lilli Pilli.
"We've got engineers attending at 1:00pm (AEST) and they'll look at how they'll recover it and how it is going to work in with investigators and forensic services group."
ABC April 25, 2011, 5:32 am
Authorities are trying to find the wreckage from a helicopter crash that killed an elderly woman on the New South Wales south coast.
Police and emergency services were called to Lilli Pilli, south of Batemans Bay, after hearing reports a helicopter crashed into the water about 50 metres off the coast.
Surf lifesavers rushed to the scene, about 6pm AEST on Sunday, and found a man and a woman in the water.
They tried to revive the 72-year-old woman but she died at the scene.
The pilot, a 72-year-old man, was winched to safety by a rescue helicopter and treated for hypothermia.
A search is continuing for the wreckage of the R44 helicopter.
Witnesses have been urged to contact police. A report is also being prepared for the Coroner.
Surf livesaving spokesmans Andrew Edmonds says witnesses were quick to respond.
"A number of people from the Lilli Pilli area swam out with torches to... provide visibility to rescuers above and also basically help lifesavers who were in inflatable boats know where they were," Mr Edmonds said.
"Members of the public pulled the pilot on to the rocks and that pilot was later winched by the helicopter to the ambulance and treated for mild hypothermia."
Investigators due at fatal chopper crash
Specialist investigators are due soon at the scene of a fatal helicopter crash on the New South Wales far south coast.
The chopper plunged into water off Lilli Pilli beach, south of Batemans Bay, last night.
The 72-year-old pilot from nearby Malua Bay was rescued suffering mild hypothermia but his 70-year-old wife died at the scene.
Police Inspector Greg Flood says there are no plans to bring the wreckage ashore until late this afternoon.
"We've got water police out there at the moment securing the scene," he said.
"The helicopter is still at the scene.
"It is in a reef area there around from Lilli Pilli.
"We've got engineers attending at 1:00pm (AEST) and they'll look at how they'll recover it and how it is going to work in with investigators and forensic services group."