‘They weren’t in a good way’: Hero jogger rescues Bellarine Peninsula chopper crash victims from ocean
An “extremely professional” veteran pilot is recovering in hospital after the chopper he was flying crashed into the ocean near Point Lonsdale on Friday.
Victoria
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The pilot of a helicopter which plunged into the ocean off the Bellarine Peninsula is awake and talking as he recovers in hospital from Friday’s disastrous crash.
Veteran pilot Anton Westerink was on Saturday morning in a stable condition in hospital after the chopper he was flying crashed into the ocean near Point Lonsdale on Friday.
A hero jogger came to the rescue of Mr Westerink and his two passengers after the engine of the Robinson 44 helicopter failed 40m from the shore about 10am.
Mr Westerink, of Geelong Helicopters, was on Saturday recovering at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
It remains unclear what injuries he suffered but they are said to be serious.
Mr Westerink’s colleague, Don Adamson, said he was an “extremely professional” pilot who “doesn’t take any risks”.
He said Mr Westerink was awake and communicating with friends from his hospital bed.
“He’s very experienced, extremely professional,” he said on Saturday.
“It would take something beyond his control (to crash). He doesn’t take any risks.
“He’s very conservative in the way he operates. He runs a very tight ship. Everything has to be spot on, right down to the uniforms.”
One of Mr Westerink’s passengers, a 53-year-old man, was on Saturday in a stable condition at the Geelong Hospital.
His other passenger, a woman in her 40s, is also in a stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The chopper plunged into the ocean about 40m from the shore between Point Lonsdale and Collendina, near Ocean Grove.
A jogger on the beach said he saw Mr Westerink waving to him from the ocean and waded into the water to help pull the female passenger from the helicopter.
“They were flying low over the ocean and then crashed just off the shore,” the jogger 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.”
One woman said she had been walking along the Point Lonsdale back beach when she heard a bang.
“It was so loud,” Kathy, from Leopold, said.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman said the Robinson R44 chopper was forced to ditch in the water after the engine failed.
He said a full report on the investigation’s findings would be released once the probe was complete.
“The evidence-collection phase of the investigation will involve examining the recovered 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.”
Adding to the drama, emergency services struggled to reach the scene because of thick scrub on the dunes in front of the crash site and other access difficulties.
A rescue vehicle also became bogged in the sand while paramedics transported the three patients on surf lifesaving buggies.
The ATSB and police investigation are ongoing.
Originally published as ‘They weren’t in a good way’: Hero jogger rescues Bellarine Peninsula chopper crash victims from ocean
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