Ray Mears in Helicopter crash ?
Thread Starter
Ray Mears in Helicopter crash ?
Sorry if it's been covered before, but my wife said she saw something on tv about Ray Mears been in a Helicopter crash filming last series no fatalities mentioned. I googled it but just got mention of incident but no info on type or place.Anyone know any more ?.
R
R
A very hard nut who appears very unassuming. www.raymears.com
The crash happened a couple of years ago whilst filming one of his TV series. As far as I recall, the pilot was in a quite low orbit and managed to stuff up some how. My recollection of the accident report (as you can probably tell) is sketchy, at best. It was a B206 in Arizona, I think.
There was a preliminary NTSB report released but I never saw the final report.
HTH
The crash happened a couple of years ago whilst filming one of his TV series. As far as I recall, the pilot was in a quite low orbit and managed to stuff up some how. My recollection of the accident report (as you can probably tell) is sketchy, at best. It was a B206 in Arizona, I think.
There was a preliminary NTSB report released but I never saw the final report.
HTH
Ray Mears
Ray was on the ground when the heli crashed. An experienced freelance camerman was shooting out the door of the MD XX, they were flying low.
heli came to grief, no fire.
Ray Mears aided the rescue.
The cameraman was seriously injured and is still unable to return to work, the last I enquired. Not sure of the pilot's injuries.
The BBC did not cover the cameraman for his injuries as they said he was self employed.
But it was BBC who booked the helicopter and the camerman was following directions from BBC director.
After a long and expensive court case the cameraman recieved compensation, the details of which have never been made public.
A very sorry affair made worse by the BBC stonewalling and leaving the camerman to fend for himself in the courts at a time when he was incapacitated.
Mickjoebill
correction; Ray was in the heli.
heli came to grief, no fire.
Ray Mears aided the rescue.
The cameraman was seriously injured and is still unable to return to work, the last I enquired. Not sure of the pilot's injuries.
The BBC did not cover the cameraman for his injuries as they said he was self employed.
But it was BBC who booked the helicopter and the camerman was following directions from BBC director.
After a long and expensive court case the cameraman recieved compensation, the details of which have never been made public.
A very sorry affair made worse by the BBC stonewalling and leaving the camerman to fend for himself in the courts at a time when he was incapacitated.
Mickjoebill
correction; Ray was in the heli.
Last edited by mickjoebill; 22nd Aug 2007 at 13:04. Reason: factual innacuracy
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Ray is the definitive gentleman and he was in the helicopter when it crashed. Last night's TV programme showed some amazing photos, they might be on the Richard & Judy website.
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Ray is the definitive gentleman and he was in the helicopter when it crashed. Last night's TV programme showed some amazing photos, they might be on the Richard & Judy website.
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Blind have you meet Ray cause I have and Defintive gentlemen he is not I have also seen how he films and not all is true about how he lives on location. I have been on a few filming jobs.
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Blind have you meet Ray cause I have and Defintive gentlemen he is not I have also seen how he films and not all is true about how he lives on location. I have been on a few filming jobs.
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Yes, but it was a long time ago, before his TV stuff so maybe he's changed but I stand by my opinion.
He said on the TV last night he was in the crash but maybe he wasn't if somebody knows otherwise.
He said on the TV last night he was in the crash but maybe he wasn't if somebody knows otherwise.
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I too have flown him around, and his film crew. Had some discussions about his crash with him, he was indeed in the Machine with his cameraman. Now very appreciative of a good safety brief with location of all the emergency equipment. As we operate in a very remote area (Northern Kimberly, WA AUS) the crew themselves also came very well equiped with their own survival gear, so much to the point I had to get them to nearly leave some behind as the poor old Jettie can only do so much.
As far as the man himself goes, was very personable with me, and had some fairly frank discussions, however I don't quite have the same thoughts about the things he was talking about, but to his credit, he did always say 'In my opinion', and AFAIK, everyone can have an opinion can they not?
He was more than willing to listen to my side of things, and was not offensive at all, but beware, DO NOT cross his trip director.... shes got a bite and a half 
Maybe she just didn't appreciate some good northern aus sarcasm.
Oh, and he did apparently spend a while in the SAS and all that gear.......
As far as the man himself goes, was very personable with me, and had some fairly frank discussions, however I don't quite have the same thoughts about the things he was talking about, but to his credit, he did always say 'In my opinion', and AFAIK, everyone can have an opinion can they not?
He was more than willing to listen to my side of things, and was not offensive at all, but beware, DO NOT cross his trip director.... shes got a bite and a half
Maybe she just didn't appreciate some good northern aus sarcasm.Oh, and he did apparently spend a while in the SAS and all that gear.......
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Blind
I must live in a different universe.....I apologise in advance.
Who is Richard? Who is Judy?
I have been in this (helicopter) business for 28 years and know many people in it but I haven't heard of these people.
If I knew who they were I may better understand this thread.
I must live in a different universe.....I apologise in advance.
Who is Richard? Who is Judy?
I have been in this (helicopter) business for 28 years and know many people in it but I haven't heard of these people.
If I knew who they were I may better understand this thread.
Considerably Bemused Wannabe
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Richard & Judy are "in my opinion" 
rather terrible UK Channel 4 TV hosts. I was rather embarrassed to know what programme this thread related to and only mentioned it in case the website showed the photos. Alas, it didn't so I outed myself as watching junk TV for no reason!
rather terrible UK Channel 4 TV hosts. I was rather embarrassed to know what programme this thread related to and only mentioned it in case the website showed the photos. Alas, it didn't so I outed myself as watching junk TV for no reason!
Last edited by Blind; 22nd Aug 2007 at 13:19. Reason: Typo
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Nice guy Ray NOT!!!!!!
Ray has spoken up the lines in Hereford NEVER been a badged member off the regiment!! Just to clear that up I have dealings with on both sides off the fence military and civil with Ray and his productions.
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ChopperPug - You may be confusing RM with Bear Grylls, another presenter of survival-themed shows, who was briefly in 21 SAS, one of the two TA Regts. This video of him has no aviation component, but is worth a laugh.
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Bear Grylls is the legend who para motored over Mount Everest... as a para motor fan myself I can't imagine how slack his bowels must have been at that point!
He also squeezed and drank the liquid out of a large heap of elephant number 2 in order to keep himself hydrated during an African survival episode. In the process a large chunk of it dropped into his mouth. Lovely.
He also squeezed and drank the liquid out of a large heap of elephant number 2 in order to keep himself hydrated during an African survival episode. In the process a large chunk of it dropped into his mouth. Lovely.