Lucky escape

[Hagar]

Spotted this in today's Sun. See photo. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006570300,00.html

[i]December 11, 2006

A MYSTERY helicopter pilot pulled a woman from the wreckage of her crashed biplane.

The unknown rescuer landed next to the tangled remains after spotting the aircraft in a field at Oving, West Sussex.

He gave first aid until paramedics arrived

[Hagar]

More accurate report here. http://www.portsmouthtoday.co.uk/

Pilot escapes as plane crashes in field

A FEMALE pilot had a lucky escape when her light aircraft crashed in a field in West Sussex.
She had taken off from Goodwood 15 minutes earlier and had been flying above Arundel when the plane developed engine trouble.

Her May Day distress call was picked up by a passing helicopter, with a qualified nurse on board, on its way to Redhill in Surrey.

As the plane began nose-diving to the ground above the field in Oving, near Chichester at 11.30am, witnesses in cars immediately contacted police and ambulances services who were at the scene within minutes.

The helicopter landed next to the plane and the nurse immediately ran to the pilot's aid to keep her stable until an ambulance arrived.

Inspector John Merrick, from Bognor police, said: 'I have dealt with a few plane crashes in my time and she was very lucky to be alive.
'After being put on a spinal board by paramedics she was taken to St Richard's Hospital and was able to walk out later that afternoon.

'She was very lucky and we found her in good spirits although she was obviously very shaken.'

The woman, from Worthing, West Sussex, co-owned the plane with a male partner and it was based at Goodwood.

Her partner told police that she was a seasoned pilot well able to handle the aircraft. There were no other occupants in the aircraft at the time.

It is thought the plane will now be written off because it is severely damaged.

Police and officers from the Air Accident Investigations Branch are investigating the cause of the crash.

[cspyro21]

Well done to the helicopter pilot - any more news onm identifying the him?

[Hagar]

Well done to the helicopter pilot - any more news onm identifying the him?

I suspect the Sun got it wrong as usual. The other report is more specific.

Her May Day distress call was picked up by a passing helicopter, with a qualified nurse on board, on its way to Redhill in Surrey.

...........

The helicopter landed next to the plane and the nurse immediately ran to the pilot's aid to keep her stable until an ambulance arrived.

PS. I borrowed this photo from the CAA website. I don't think they'll be needing it for a while.

[Saitek]

That is so typical of the sun, dramatising it more than it is. Still a good well done to both pilot and nurse. 8-)

[Craig.]

its possible the pilot wouldn't want to be identified if they didn't have clearance to land. There have been cases in the past where pilots have been busted for landing in a public area without that clearance.

[Hagar]

I think it's more likely he wanted to get to his destination without further delay. The Sun simply got it wrong - again. A helicopter with a nurse on board would usually be on or returning from some sort of emergency mission. There should be no problem at all in identifying it or the crew.

[Craig.]

i'll be honest with ya Doug, I dont read the sun really. Occasional flick through when theres a copy in the staff canteen but other than that its very rare.

[Hagar]

I'm not a Sun reader but I enjoy looking at the pretty pics over brekkers in the Greasy Spoon. 8-)

I just happened to spot one of that poor little Pitts among all the lovely ladies.

[eniranjanrao]

A good deed was done and a person helped lets thank the lord for sending someone to help the pilot instead of finding out who he was :D