Four people were confirmed to have died in a helicopter crash near Msikaba on the Wild Coast on Wednesday.
Lusikisiki police spokesman Captain Mduduzi Godlwana said the private helicopter had come from Margate in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The wind is strong and so are the sea currents, making it difficult for rescue teams to work in the area where the helicopter crashed,” said Godlwana.
He declined to release the names of those killed in the crash.
“This was a privately owned helicopter. The deceased were the owner, who was 50-years-old, his son, who was 24-years-old and two others, who were 40- and 38-years-old respectively,” Godlwana said.
Dean Riley, a friend of the deceased, said: “They were travelling to the Wild Coast when they were involved in the crash.
“After I heard about the accident I flew down to the area.
“Tomorrow I will be taking the civil aviation and insurance company to the scene.”
He said the helicopter was a Robertson R44 , with registration number ZS-RXW.
Godlwana said the police had opened an inquest docket and were waiting for an investigation by the civil aviation authority.
Health department provincial spokesman Siyanda Manana confirmed that four bodies had been discovered at the crash site.
“The bad weather and the treacherous terrain played a major role in the accident,” he said, adding a rescue team had left for the scene at 5am and arrived at first light.
The helicopter had crashed in a deep gorge along the coast.
Villagers from surrounding areas, led by their traditional leaders were on hand to assist with rescue operations.
Eastern Msikaba and Lambasi traditional leader, Chief Mkwendini Thahle, said locals from the area had been summoned to help.
“We have been there since 6am assisting where we are needed the most but not interfering with any piece of evidence, as there will be an investigation into what caused the crash,” he said.
Thahle said the crash was witnessed by a local resident.
“He was one of a group of people working at a vulture viewing deck when he saw a helicopter had crashed and he called me and informed the police,” said Thahle.
All four bodies were found inside the wreckage he said, adding it would be extremely difficult to remove it from the deep gorge.
Manana said three helicopters, one from the SAPS, another from the health department’s emergency services and a private helicopter, had responded to the crash.
Father, son, two others die in helicopter crash
Lusikisiki police spokesman Captain Mduduzi Godlwana said the private helicopter had come from Margate in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The wind is strong and so are the sea currents, making it difficult for rescue teams to work in the area where the helicopter crashed,” said Godlwana.
He declined to release the names of those killed in the crash.
“This was a privately owned helicopter. The deceased were the owner, who was 50-years-old, his son, who was 24-years-old and two others, who were 40- and 38-years-old respectively,” Godlwana said.
Dean Riley, a friend of the deceased, said: “They were travelling to the Wild Coast when they were involved in the crash.
“After I heard about the accident I flew down to the area.
“Tomorrow I will be taking the civil aviation and insurance company to the scene.”
He said the helicopter was a Robertson R44 , with registration number ZS-RXW.
Godlwana said the police had opened an inquest docket and were waiting for an investigation by the civil aviation authority.
Health department provincial spokesman Siyanda Manana confirmed that four bodies had been discovered at the crash site.
“The bad weather and the treacherous terrain played a major role in the accident,” he said, adding a rescue team had left for the scene at 5am and arrived at first light.
The helicopter had crashed in a deep gorge along the coast.
Villagers from surrounding areas, led by their traditional leaders were on hand to assist with rescue operations.
Eastern Msikaba and Lambasi traditional leader, Chief Mkwendini Thahle, said locals from the area had been summoned to help.
“We have been there since 6am assisting where we are needed the most but not interfering with any piece of evidence, as there will be an investigation into what caused the crash,” he said.
Thahle said the crash was witnessed by a local resident.
“He was one of a group of people working at a vulture viewing deck when he saw a helicopter had crashed and he called me and informed the police,” said Thahle.
All four bodies were found inside the wreckage he said, adding it would be extremely difficult to remove it from the deep gorge.
Manana said three helicopters, one from the SAPS, another from the health department’s emergency services and a private helicopter, had responded to the crash.
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