Injured man frees himself from chopper to call for help

UPDATED > PARKS Australia director waits at Royal Darwin Hospital for news on the seriously injured men. Two of the men were trapped in the crashed helicopter in a remote area of Kakadu National Park as they waited for help to arrive

Three men flown to hospital after helicopter crash in Kakadu PIC: CAREFLIGHT

TWO seriously injured men were trapped in a crashed helicopter in a remote area of Kakadu National Park as they waited for help to arrive, new details show.

CareFlight reports showed a third man was able free himself and call for help.

Their helicopter crashed during an animal control muster in the southern part of Kakadu National Park just after 10am Tuesday.

Speaking to ABC Darwin this morning, Parks Australia director Dr James Findlay praised the work of CareFlight and emergency responders in the crisis.

“Our immediate concern remains for the welfare of everyone on board and their families,” he said.

“Kakadu is a wild and dangerous place … we’ll be reviewing what happened here.”

Dr Findlay said it took “quite a while” for rescuers to be able get services to the men.

“We were able to identify the crash site fairly quickly but it was difficult to get CareFlight and other services in there,” he said.

“It took a few hours to get the ground crew in there.”

Dr Findlay said he was currently at Royal Darwin Hospital to give support to the injured men and their families.

MORE ON THE KAKADU CRASH

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ESTEEMED ranger Fred Hunter believed hurt in Kakadu chopper crash

CareFlight sent the NT Helicopter and a King Air to the area.

”The first patient was freed and winched into the helicopter before being flown to meet a CareFlight King Air at Cooinda Lodge for transport to Royal Darwin Hospital,” a statement from CareFlight said.

“A CareFlight flight nurse and doctor continued to care for the 59-year-old man during the transfer to RDH.

“He arrived in a serious condition with significant injuries.

Kakadu National Park ranger Fred Hunter was seriously hurt in the crash. Picture: Facebook. Art: Louis Marquez

“The other two patients were treated at the scene, before being winched into the helicopter and flown directly to Royal Darwin Hospital and arrived just after 6pm.

“Both patients, in their 50s, were in a serious condition.”

One man will today be transferred interstate for specialist treatment.

Another man is currently being assessed in the emergency department at RDH and a third is in a stable condition.

One of those on board in the crash is believed to be esteemed Kakadu National Park ranger Fred Hunter.

In a post on Facebook Mr Hunter’s brother-in-law said he believed the injuries sustained included broken bones.

“Hi family and friends … I’m afraid my bro in law Fred Hunter has gone down in this incident,” read the post from Andy Ralph. “All three occupants conducting the Parks Feral Shoot (shooter, spotter, pilot) all (sic) Medevaced to RDH. Injuries include broken bones apparently … let’s hope the rest of them OK.”

Two passengers were Kakadu National Park staff members and one an external contractor, a Parks Australia spokesman said.

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Details throughout the day remained scarce and subject to change, with early reports indicating the passengers were in a stable condition after the Bell Jetranger helicopter crashed.

Initial reports from St John Ambulance suggested all three passengers were believed to be in a stable condition after they were winched from the helicopter to safety.

But by 4pm CareFlight confirmed all were in a serious condition.

IN OTHER NEWS

The three passengers arrived in Darwin at different times after the first passenger winched to safety arrived at RDH about 3pm.

Details are not yet known regarding the nature of the crash or feral animal culling activities. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it was waiting on further details before deciding on an investigation into the crash.

“A collision with terrain and a Bell Jetranger has been reported to the ATSB and we are currently gathering further information ahead of making a decision,” a spokesman said.

Originally published as Injured man frees himself from chopper to call for help