The helicopter crash resulted in the death of four people whose bodies were recovered, the rescue of six others who were rushed to hospitals, and two others who had still not been found at press time.
According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the helicopter crashed en route from an oil rig.
The General Manager, Public Affairs of NCAA, Fan Ndubuoke, confirmed that the helicopter, which was scheduled to arrive Lagos at 15.35 pm had 12 persons on board, including the American pilot and his co-pilot.
The rescued victims were rushed to the Gbagada General Hospital and Afolabi Medical Centre in Oworonsoki, while the search continued for the remaining two passengers.
Those admitted at Afolabi Medical Centre, a private
hospital, were identified as Solomon Udeh and Joshua Emekeme, while the four at Gbagada General Hospital gave their identities as Iniala Opaimi, Dolu Ebiejuara, Chukwudi Onah and Onara Onoriode-Ojiete.
The helicopter, which crashed behind the traditional ruler’s palace, was said to have caused panic in Oworonsoki, as the residents scampered for safety.
An eyewitness said the helicopter was seen flying from a distance but when it got to Oworonsoki, it
nosedived and sank into the lagoon.
Although it could not be confirmed where the helicopter took off from, THISDAY gathered from the site that the passengers onboard the aircraft were contractors and dredgers reportedly working for Indigo Dredging Company.
The men were said to have left from an oil rig between Lagos and Ondo States, having worked for the mandatory two weeks.
It was gathered that they were on their way to begin a
two-week break, as is the norm with those who work on oil rigs, when the accident occurred.
two-week break, as is the norm with those who work on oil rigs, when the accident occurred.
Immediately the incident happened, rescue agencies thronged the site and rescue operations began in ernest.
Some of the rescue agencies were the Special Boats Services of the Nigerian Navy, the Marine Police, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and their state counterpart LASEMA.
The South-west Spokesperson for NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the casualties.
He said:Meanwhile,the Lagos State Police Command has Released a report on the incident.
“As we speak, we don’t know the identities of the deceased persons. We are waiting for the manifest to identify them.
“Search and rescue operations continue until all the bodies are recovered. Meanwhile, we are yet to ascertain why the helicopter crashed.”
Find below...
Following a distress call received from Local Divers at about 3:10 pm today, 12th August, 2015, that a Helicopter plunged into the Lagos Lagoon at Oworonshoki, a team of Policemen and other emergency management agencies swiftly moved to the scene. During the rescue operation, six persons on board the helicopter were rescued alive and taken to the hospital for medical attention and are responding to treatment, while four corpses were recovered.
Initial enquiry revealed that the helicopter belongs to Bristow Helicopters and that twelve(12) persons were said to be on board the ill-fated helicopter.
2 comments:
You people should find names of those affected and release them nau
Nigeria emergency system that is so poor, you sure they not lying to us?
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