Police to remain on Melville Island for 10 days during Marine recovery

The head of Australia’s leading disaster response agency has praised the US Marines killed in a training exercise off the Northern Territory.

The head of Australia’s leading disaster response agency has praised the hero US Marines who lost their lives saving their comrades from a horror chopper crash that “could have been much, much worse”.

National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre executive director Len Notaras told reporters in Darwin on Monday he was “relieved that so many survived” after the MV-22 Osprey went down over the Tiwi Islands on Sunday, killing three of those on board.

“I think that those that got the asset on the ground are probably well worthwhile commending even though they might have lost their lives,” he said.

Prof Notaras said of the 20 casualties, eight had been admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital in the wake of the tragedy, with five having since been discharged to Robertson Barracks while one remained in a critical condition and two others were in hospital and expected to make a full recovery.

Exercise Predators Run operations will continue in the Darwin area and Mount Bundey Training Area, but all planned exercise missions in Melville Island will not proceed.

Executive director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre Len Notaras speaks in Darwin on the response to the Osprey crash on Melville Island on Sunday, August 27, 2023 in which three US Marines were killed. Picture: Jason Walls

He said the disaster was “right up there” with the most serious incidents the NCCTRC had responded to in its 21-year history.

“We have heard from those who were responding locally from the clinics that it was a horrendous scene and it really was underpinned by the severity of the crash itself,” he said.

“The fact that there have been fatalities as well associated with this and critical injury, it demonstrates that it was up there with them.”

Prof Notaras also praised the “superb response” of all emergency services who attended the scene and helped the wounded

“I have to commend the response by the three health clinics on the Tiwi Islands, the doctor up there and all staff who responded as first responders to an incident that was of significant proportion,” he said.

“The work that CareFlight and Toll did to evacuate the critically injured and the injured back to Darwin was nothing short of heroic and outstanding.

“Bringing them back to Darwin is no mean feat and in a situation where an incident such as this has occurred you can’t underestimate the pressure that’s on people.”

It comes as the bodies of three American Marines killed in a horror Osprey crash north of Darwin have not yet been recovered.

Northern Territory Police are leading the charge to evacuate the Melville Island crash site and transport the military service people “with dignity”.

Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said investigators were deployed to the site to examine the site and collect “evidentiary material” in partnership with Defence.

“This recovery and investigation will be prolonged and complex,” he said.

“We are planning to be at the crash site for at least 10 days at this stage.”

A helicopter carrying a US Marine injured in an Osprey crash at the Tiwi Islands near Darwin arrives at The Royal Darwin Hospital on Sunday, 27 August, 2023.

Mr Murphy said the United States Marine Corps and Australian Defence Force were assisting police with resources.

He said it was not yet clear what had caused the crash but confirmed the aircraft went up in flames upon crashing.

“We’re still at a crash site where there’s a fire service environment, breathing apparatus, it’s actually quite difficult,” he said.

“The priority is the recovery.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the three Marines killed in the crash were an immense loss felt across the Territory.

“These people weren’t simply here for a few weeks on an exercise,” Ms Fyles said.

“They’re a rotational force that comes through the Top End every year and they integrate themselves into our community.

“They attend sporting events, they attend schools, and they provide support, so they’re certainly part of our community.”

Ms Fyles said eight of 20 people rushed to Royal Darwin Hospital following the crash were still receiving treatment while 12 others had been discharged.

One patient remains in the intensive care unit.

My Fyles said she was unable to comment on the survivors’ conditions.

“What I can assure their families is that they are getting the best care possible and we are working to ensure that they are supported,” Ms Fyles said.

“The Royal Darwin Hospital declared that Code Brown and stood up an emergency response.

“We cleared emergency departments, opened additional theatres, had ICU beds prepared but we also made sure that we had additional support such as pathology, blood bank, all of those services coming online, not knowing what we were facing.”

An MV 22 Osprey carrying 23 Marines crashed on Melville Island on Sunday.

She said the Territory’s healthcare workers would also be supported in the coming months in light of their quick work during a traumatic event.

“The Northern Territory is prepared for these types of situations and I know some of the staff at Royal Darwin Hospital have responded to the Bali bombings, to the Ashmore Reef Disaster,” she said.

“That National Critical Care and Trauma Response team that stood up alongside CareFlight and NT Health, Royal Darwin Hospital staff, highlights the reason why we do all the training and the preparation, making sure we have everything.

“We always wish that we don’t have to deal with these incidents. But when we do, we’re absolutely ready to provide a first class response.

“That was what was achieved yesterday.”

Mission under way to retrieve three dead in military crash

Emergency services are working to recover the bodies of three US marines killed in a horror chopper crash off the Northern Territory coast.

A MV-22 Osprey went down on Sunday morning over the Tiwi Islands, about 80km north of Darwin, with 23 American personnel on board.

Five were taken to Royal Darwin Hospital including one with critical injuries.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the response had changed from a rescue mission to a recovery mission.

He said the bodies of those killed were still being retrieved from the “rough terrain” on Melville Island.

“(The location) is about 2km inland near an airstrip, near the (Tiwi) college,” he said.

“We’re actually quite fortunate having that airstrip close by to the crash site.”

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St Johns NT operations manager Craig Garraway said of the aircraft’s 23 passengers, one was in a critical condition, six had serious injuries and 13 were “walking wounded”.

“(The walking wounded) had multiple injuries as a result of the crash, a number of broken bones here and there,” he told ABC Radio.

“They were able to be moved … able to get themselves around and assist with transfers.”

A Code Brown at Royal Darwin Hospital was stood down about 8pm Sunday.

A government spokeswoman said it was used as a management tool to clear beds for incoming casualties.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the aircraft went down near a remote airstrip on Melville Island. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Murphy said the response on Sunday was a “challenging” operation that involved the US Marine Corps, Australian Defence, NT Police and emergency services including CareFlight, the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre and St Johns.

“It was really a big effort from everyone that attended there and co-ordinated the rescue and the response,” he said.

“The crashed Osprey was obviously in heavy bushland so the clinic staff, our police from Pirlangimpi and Wurrumiyanga were deployed to the location.

“A number of aircraft were immediately dispatched through Defence and other civilian services and CareFlight.

“The ability to land in sort of close proximity to the crash site, and the speed of the assistance, ended in some casualties being treated quicker and probably saving lives.

A Care Flight helicopter is seen on the tarmac of the Darwin International Airport in Darwin on Sunday, as rescue work is in progress to transport those injured in the US Osprey military aircraft crash. Picture: DAVID GRAY / AFP

“Our deepest condolences go out to the US Marine Corps, their colleagues, the families and friends and all the Australian Defence Force colleagues who were working alongside them for the tragic death of the three personnel.”

Arafura MLA Manuel Brown said he was “completely heartbroken” over the news.

“The Tiwi Islands have a proud military history and our people will rally around in support of all those impacted by this tragic incident,” he said.

“Our thoughts and prayers to the families of those who have lost their lives and to all those who were injured.”

The US Embassy Canberra issued a statement on Sunday night thanking Northern Territory and Australian authorities for their response to the crash.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the three U.S. Marines who were lost in an MV-22B Osprey crash (Sunday) in Tiwi Islands, Australia, and we wish a speedy and full recovery to the injured,” it read.

“We are grateful to the Australian Defence Force, the Northern Territory government, the Royal Darwin Hospital, and all of the Australian first responders, healthcare workers, military personnel, and government officials who have reached out to provide assistance and offer condolences during this challenging time.

“Australians and Americans have been the closest of friends for over a hundred years, and we’re thankful for their continued friendship and support at this time.”