A pilot has died after a helicopter crash in Sydney’s north-west on Saturday morning.
Carl Hearps was flying over the flood zone at Sackville North, close to Windsor, shortly earlier than 11.50am when his chopper got here down.
Emergency crews discovered the skilled pilot’s physique after they accessed the location by means of troublesome terrain and flood-affected bushland.
Andrew Millett, a 9 Information helicopter pilot, noticed the plume of smoke whereas engaged on a information story about floods close to Wisemans Ferry.
“We rotated and I noticed simply at that second, a puff of very thick black smoke beginning to seem from the bush not too removed from the place we had been – possibly about 5 kilometres.”
Millett went to research the smoke that “simply did not look proper”, however initially thought it may very well be somebody burning garbage.
“After I noticed a part of the wreckage, I realised it was a helicopter,” he mentioned.
“We had been there inside a couple of minutes. I alerted emergency providers and gave them the placement as a result of it was in fairly a nasty terrain atmosphere.
“I obtained as shut as I might and was calling out to see if anybody [was there], hoping somebody would reply.”
Millet mentioned he has recognized the pilot for greater than 10 years.
“He was such an awesome man,” he mentioned.
“He was at all times a kind of blokes that will drop something to assist anybody in want.
“(He) at all times simply had this pleasant nature about him.”
Hearps led flood restoration and firebombing efforts throughout his profession.
The skilled pilot additionally survived a high-speed boat crash on the Hawkesbury River again in 2002.
He walked away with decrease again and hip ache.
Against the law scene has been established and will probably be held underneath police guard in a single day, with a restoration operation and investigations to proceed tomorrow.
The Australian Transport Security Bureau has been notified and can lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
