TWO young Australian tourists were among seven people killed when a helicopter crashed into a glacier during a joy flight in New Zealand.
The sightseeing helicopter plunged into the Fox Glacier, a popular tourist site on the west coast of the South Island, on Saturday. It was heavily overcast and raining at the time.
Leang Sovannmony and Josephine Gibson, both aged in their 20s, were among the victims.
New Zealand police this morning said the pair was from South Australia — but in the early afternoon updated their statement to say they were in fact from New South Wales.
Police have now revealed the identities of all seven victims — six tourists and a local pilot.
They are:
Mitchell Paul Gameren, New Zealand, 28
Leang Sovannmony, Australia, 27
Josephine Gibson, Australia, 29
Andrew Virco, Cambridge, UK, 50
Katharine Walker, Cambridge, UK, 51
Nigel Edwin Charlton, Hampshire, UK, 66
Cynthia Charlton, Hampshire, UK, 70
NZ Police spokeswoman Barbara Dunn confirmed the recovery operation was underway.
“The operation is extremely challenging and the safety of those working at the scene is of paramount importance,” she said.
No survivors … Wreckage of a Alpine Adventures Scenic Flights Eurocopter 6 ” Squirrel ” helicopter at Fox Glacier. Seven people are confirmed to have died. Picture: NZ PoliceSource:Supplied
A paramedic and alpine rescue team who looked over the crash site confirmed there were no survivors.
“A helicopter carrying seven people including the pilot has crashed at the top of the Fox Glacier,” Inspector John Canning said.
“We have been to the site and there is no sign of life and tomorrow we hope to recover the bodies of those involved.”
Inspector Canning said the recovery effort could take time because of the atrocious weather.
“I’m not going to risk any more lives, we’ve lost seven,” he said. “The terrain at the top of the glacier is very rough, as you can imagine it’s icy and there are crevasses — it’s quite dangerous.”
“Police have been liaising with the embassies of the countries concerned to ensure the next of kin are advised of the situation,” the statement reads.
JULIE BISHOP ‘SADDENED’
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she was saddened to learn of the suspected deaths of two Australians.
“We hold grave concerns (and) have spoken to the two families concerned,” she said.
“My sympathies are with the families of the crash victims at this very distressing time.
“I am advised that the location and weather conditions at the crash site are difficult and full details of the crash are yet to emerge.”
She said her department would remain in close contact with the New Zealand authorities as they respond to the crash and we would provide support to the affected families.
CONDITIONS ‘TERRIBLE’
Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn described weather conditions around the glacier at the time of the accident as “terrible” with heavy rain and poor visibility.
“It wouldn’t be a good day to be flying helicopters,” he said.
Debris from the wrecked helicopter was spread over several hundred metres with the main part of the aircraft wedged between house-sized blocks of ice.
Danger zone … Fox Glacier falls 8500ft on its 13km journey from the Southern Alps down to the coast.Source:Supplied
The alarm was raised late Saturday morning when an emergency locator beacon was activated.
The New Zealand Rescue Co-Ordination Centre sent four helicopters to the glacier where they found a deep scorch mark leading to the helicopter about 760 metres up the glacier.
A spokesman for Alpine Adventures, which operated the single-engine Squirrel helicopter, confirmed it was on a scenic flight with six passengers.
New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission said it would investigate the cause of the crash and had sent four investigators to Fox Glacier.
Alpine Adventures advertises itself as an “experienced helicopter flight-seeing company providing visitors with a diverse range of South Island scenic helicopter flights and private charters in some of (the) most spectacular alpine and coastal regions of New Zealand”.
Five years ago, nine people including four tourists were killed when a plane carrying a party of skydivers crashed on take off at Fox Glacier airport.
Fox Glacier is 13 kilometres long and is listed as one of the most accessible glaciers in the world, attracting thousands of tourists each year.
[Source:- news.com]