Multiple people injured after helicopter crashes into water off Point Lonsdale
Three people have been pulled from the water by a heroic passer-by after a helicopter crashed into waters off Point Lonsdale.
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Three people have been pulled from the water after a helicopter suffered an engine failure and crashed into the sea off the Bellarine Peninsula.
Emergency services were called to Point Lonsdale about 10am on Friday after reports of an aircraft incident.
A spokesman from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said that the aircraft, a Robinson R44, was forced to ditch in the water after the engine failed.
Police confirmed three people were on board the helicopter when it crashed into the water on a stretch of beach between Point Lonsdale and Collendina, that runs parallel to Shell Rd.
An air ambulance landed on the beach and took two patients, a woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s, to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious injuries.
Both are in a stable condition.
A 53-year-old man was taken to Geelong hospital by road with serious injuries and is now in a stable condition.
Witnesses reported a male pilot and two passengers, a man and a woman, were pulled from the wreckage.
Fire crews confirmed the helicopter crashed about 30 to 50m from the shoreline.
A hero jogger was running past the scene and saw the pilot waving at him from the ocean.
He then waded into the water and helped pull a female passenger from the helicopter.
“They were flying low over the ocean and then crashed just off the shore,” he said.
“It’s really sad, they weren’t in a good way.
“The passengers were in shock and couldn’t walk.
“The pilot could walk but seemed beat up.”
Paramedics could be seen transporting patients on surf life saving buggies.
Emergency services struggled to gain access to the scene due to thick scrub.
Passer-by Alexander Walker said locals had to assist when one of the buggies became bogged in the sand.
A short time later, a CFA vehicle also became stuck in the sand as the tide came in.
“We were just walking along the beach when we saw the scene of the crash,” Mr Walker said.
“It’s lucky the tide’s out, because I imagine it would have been a lot harder to get them out if it wasn’t.”
Kathy from Leopold said she was walking along Point Lonsdale back beach when she heard a loud bang but couldn’t see what had happened.
“It was so loud,” she said.
“It took 15 or 20 minutes for the army helicopter to arrive.”
A police chopper could be seen hovering above the water between Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove before it later landed on the beach.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau are investigating the crash with assistance from police.
An ATSB spokesman said a report of the findings will be released once the investigation is concluded.
“The evidence collection phase of the investigation will involve examining the recovered or wreckage, interviewing witnesses and involved parties, examination of maintenance records, retrieving and reviewing recorded data, and the collection of other relevant information,” he said.
“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken.”
Originally published as Multiple people injured after helicopter crashes into water off Point Lonsdale
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