POLICE are urging all witnesses to Sunday’s tragic gyrocopter crash in Cannons Creek to come forward, in which the pilot was killed and a passenger rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
Detectives will prepare a report for the coroner into the crash, which occurred just after midday on Sunday when the gyrocopter fell into Rutherford Creek.
The pilot, a 59-year-old man from Patterson Lakes, died at the scene while his passenger, a 37-year-old man from Hampton Park, was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Detectives are urging anyone who witnessed the crash and anyone at the scene who has not provided their details to police to come forward.
The investigating officers can be contacted on 9705 3114.
Warneet resident Kylie Bowman said that while she didn’t see the crash happen, “we all heard a bang and everyone ran down there (to the crash site).
“The helicopter was in the water and people were standing around,” she said.
“I was on the phone to triple zero.”
Ms Bowman’s husband David helped get another local, Marcus Gauci, into the water.
He paddled out in a canoe to the stricken machine after it had become clear there was someone trapped.
Police later called Mr Gauci “very heroic”.
“I heard it go over – it didn’t sound like a normal helicopter,” Ms Bowman said.
“I called triple zero and five minutes later called again when someone was trapped.
“There was a guy sitting on the edge yelling out there was a person trapped.
“He (Marcus) was quite shaken up about it.”
Ms Bowman said the crash was “very sad”, particularly for such a quiet town.
“Locals tend to help out locals here,” she said.
“It was nothing for that guy to get in the canoe and go out.
“There were a lot of locals on the beach when it hit – it was one of those winter days when people were out of the house.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
