AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2005
Fed: Nine Australians killed in chopper crash
PLEASE CLOSE OFF EARLIER
By Rob Taylor, South-east Asia correspondent
ON BOARD THE HMAS KANIMBLA, April 2 AAP - Tragedy has struck Australia's relief effort
on Nias, with a Navy helicopter crashing, killing nine personnel on board.
The chopper crashed this afternoon while on approach to Amandraya village on the remote
west coast of Nias.
The Sea King helicopter had been ferrying an emergency medical team from the Kanimbla
to the village as part of relief efforts to outlying areas of Nias following a devastating
earthquake on Monday.
The helicopter crashed on approach to land, Kanimbla captain Commander George McGuire
told journalists who had been on board the Kanimbla for a media tour.
He said two on board the helicopter survived and were airlifted to the Kanimbla for
emergency surgery by the ship's second helicopter, which landed with a medical team after
seeing smoke from the crash site.
"They are in a serious condition with leg fractures and other injuries," Cmdr McGuire said.
"We believe the rest of the personnel died."
On board the chopper were five naval personnel as well as three from the Air Force
and one member of the Army.
Seven of the dead were male and two were female.
MORE rft/jnb
KEYWORD: CHOPPER LEAD
2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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