Helicopter pilot’s ‘very firm landing’ saves lives in Avalon

A WITNESS to an emergency helicopter landing in Sydney’s northern beaches has praised the pilot, saying if not for his swift thinking it could have been much worse.

A helicopter had to perform an emergency landing in Central Ave Avalon. Picture: Nathan Sheppeard.

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A HELICOPTER pilot has been hailed as a hero after he was forced to perform an emergency landing in an Avalon park.

It is believed the helicopter — which had tourists enjoying a scenic flight on board — had a fuel leak causing engine problems.

A witness to the incident, Di Cutrie, said she saw the helicopter start circling near Avalon beach followed by a “horrific noise”.

“It was a very firm landing, the pilot did an amazing job — it could have been so much worse,” she said.

“He just saved everyone’s lives ... he definitely ­deserves some kind of medal.”

A helicopter had to perform an emergency landing in Central Ave Avalon. Picture: Nathan Sheppeard.

The helicopter circled Avalon a number of times, before the pilot had to perform an emergency landing in Des Creagh Reserve.

“We heard a horrific noise, I cant even describe it,” Mrs Cutrie said.

“It sounded like a bike, it was the loudest grinding noise I have ever heard. I was speaking to the lifesavers, they said he just came down so fast.

“When it went down behind the sand dunes, they expected to see a big ream of smoke and a fireball.”

Passenger Nino Di Cuollo and his cousins were on the joy flight from Mascot to Palm Beach when trouble struck.

“The pilot called out ‘brace, brace, brace’ and I thought ‘that’s it, we’re gone’,” he told 9 News.

“The last 2m, the helicopter just dropped and just hit the ground — it was some drop. We owe our lives to him.”

Firefighters attended and set up an exclusion zone around the helicopter, which was still in the reserve yesterday.

In a statement, The Experiences Group confirmed one of its aircraft had to perform a “precautionary forced landing”.

“All passengers and crew are safe and we are thankful to the careful responsive actions of our well-trained pilot in command who made the appropriate decision on the day,” it said.