North of Sydney, a pilot of a helicopter perished when it crashed in deep wilderness, prompting emergency responders to race to the scene.
The pilot’s body, thought to be a man in his 60s, was discovered by police rescue personnel among the debris, but his identity has not yet been publicly confirmed.
Just before noon on Friday, emergency reaction teams were dispatched to the isolated forest in South Maroota, where they fought their way to the helicopter via challenging terrain and routes damaged by flooding.
The helicopter’s lone occupant is thought to have been the elderly pilot.
When New South Wales Fire and Rescue initially arrived, the helicopter was on fire and massive black plumes of smoke were pouring over the dense forest canopy.
The fire was swiftly put out by the Fire and Rescue services.
The pilot’s body was discovered in the wreckage by other rescue services once they were able to reach the scene.
Police have set up a crime scene and will keep watch there all night.
On Sunday, recovery efforts and more inquiries will go on.
The reaction team includes the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, NSW SES, NSW Rural Fire Service, Police Helicopter Teams, Police Rescue, and NSW Ambulance Helicopter.
The crash’s circumstances will be the focus of an inquiry by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.