Four people died when a Red Cross helicopter crashed near Uniondale in the Western Cape, the South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service said on Monday.
The Eurocopter BO105 helicopter crashed on Sunday night with a patient and three crew members aboard. The wreckage was found at first light on Monday.
”The South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service air-ambulance aeroplane and a helicopter based in Knysna located the burnt-out wreckage of the organisation’s BO105 helicopter near Haarlem [near Uniondale] just after first light this morning,” spokesperson Susann Elphick said.
”There were no survivors and the cause of the crash is not yet known.”
Elphick said the helicopter was dispatched to Haarlem at 6.15pm from George airport to airlift a patient involved in a motor-vehicle accident to Lamprecht clinic in George.
”Our information is that they departed Haarlem for George at 7.50pm with the patient on board. A radio call was received at approximately 8.20pm from the helicopter, but no communication was received after this. The flight from Haarlem to George normally takes approximately 30 minutes [about 100km],” Elphick said.
South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service general manager John Stone added that a ground search by Metro EMS and Mosselbay Fire and Rescue was launched at 11pm and continued throughout the night.
”I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the families concerned on the loss of their loved ones,” Stone said.
An aerial search started at first light on Monday.
A Red Cross Pilatus PC-12 plane was dispatched at 4.20am and a Red Cross Eurocopter B2 ”Squirrel” helicopter was dispatched at 6am from Cape Town International airport.
The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre also activated two Eurocopter EC120 helicopters to join the search.
The BO105 was stationed at Oudtshoorn in June to provide helicopter emergency medical services to critically ill or injured patients in the Karoo region.
It is the first time in the 39-year history of the South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service that such a crash has occurred. — Sapa