R44 crash while searching at Todd River, NT
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R44 crash while searching at Todd River, NT
Helicopter flips, crashes during search for drowning victim in Central Australia
Mid summer storms have dumped an enormous amount of water throughout the Northern Territory, causing the Todd River to flow for the first time in a year or so. Could have been dynamic rollover, but early days for speculation.
Mid summer storms have dumped an enormous amount of water throughout the Northern Territory, causing the Todd River to flow for the first time in a year or so. Could have been dynamic rollover, but early days for speculation.
A helicopter involved in the search for a drowning victim in Central Australia has flipped and crashed.
Alice Springs Police said the R-44 helicopter ended up stuck in mud on the bank of the Todd River north of the Telegraph Station during the search for 23-year-old Rowley Hill on Friday morning.
Despite the helicopter flipping, neither the pilot nor the police officer on board were injured.
A spokesman for the owner, Alice Springs Helicopters, said there had been too much rain in the area for anyone to get near the crash site to assess the damage.
The helicopter is in a remote location and may have to be taken apart to be extracted.
On Saturday, NT Police recovered the body of Mr Hill, who died after trying to ride a tyre tube down the normally dry Todd River.
Heavy rains in Central Australia had caused flash flooding in the area.
Police said Mr Hill and a 30-year-old friend entered the river at Wigley's Waterhole on Thursday, planning to use flotation devices to raft downstream.
Within a short distance, both men got into difficulty in the fast-flowing water.
Mr Hill disappeared but his friend made his way to the riverbank and contacted police who began the search.
Police and emergency services were stretched to capacity, with the wild weather causing road closures, power outages and drawing people out to sightsee and take their chances in the fast-flowing waters in and around Alice Springs.
Three people were found clinging to a tree after they were caught in floodwaters near a creek in Alice Springs last Friday.
Alice Springs Police said the R-44 helicopter ended up stuck in mud on the bank of the Todd River north of the Telegraph Station during the search for 23-year-old Rowley Hill on Friday morning.
Despite the helicopter flipping, neither the pilot nor the police officer on board were injured.
A spokesman for the owner, Alice Springs Helicopters, said there had been too much rain in the area for anyone to get near the crash site to assess the damage.
The helicopter is in a remote location and may have to be taken apart to be extracted.
On Saturday, NT Police recovered the body of Mr Hill, who died after trying to ride a tyre tube down the normally dry Todd River.
Heavy rains in Central Australia had caused flash flooding in the area.
Police said Mr Hill and a 30-year-old friend entered the river at Wigley's Waterhole on Thursday, planning to use flotation devices to raft downstream.
Within a short distance, both men got into difficulty in the fast-flowing water.
Mr Hill disappeared but his friend made his way to the riverbank and contacted police who began the search.
Police and emergency services were stretched to capacity, with the wild weather causing road closures, power outages and drawing people out to sightsee and take their chances in the fast-flowing waters in and around Alice Springs.
Three people were found clinging to a tree after they were caught in floodwaters near a creek in Alice Springs last Friday.
