By Matt Bungard
The pilot of a water-bombing helicopter contracted to the Rural Fire Service has survived after ditching the aircraft in a reservoir in the Bega Valley Shire on the NSW South Coast.
The RFS said the pilot was on his way to help fight the giant Border fire, which is threatening places such as Eden, Wonboyn, Kiah and Narrabarba.
The pilot, 47, was refilling the helicopter's water bucket in the Ben Boyd Reservoir in the Ben Boyd National Park at Edrom about 4pm when it crashed.
He was able to free himself and swam to shore.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for shoulder, back and ankle injuries, before being taken to South East Regional Hospital in a stable condition, police said.
The fire has crossed into Victoria and merged with other fires around it, creating a massive blaze of more than 150,000 hectares.
The helicopter had initially been assisting efforts to fight the 80,000-hectare Clyde Mountain fire, one of a series of massive blazes in the South Coast area.
Planning is under way to recover the aircraft, which remains submerged in the reservoir about 50 kilometres north of the Victorian border.
The reservoir is closed as a drinking supply and alternative arrangements are being managed by the local council, police said on Friday.
The RFS has a handful of its own aircraft but the vast majority of its aerial efforts are organised through contractors.
The RFS uses hundreds of contracted machines to assist in firefighting efforts, although many of them badge themselves with the RFS insignia while associated with the organisation.