Emergency chopper comes down on take-off

The four crew on board the Heli-Med German operated Majorcan rescue helicopter, yesterday walked away uninjured after the chopper crashed, apparently on take off, on a wooded property in Andratx. But while the pilot, co-pilot, doctor and assistant were unhurt, the helicopter suffered important damage. The accident happened as the chopper was taking off. Apparently as the chopper reached an altitude of just two metres, the rear rotor blades hit a branch. The pilot lost control and the helicopter crashed back down to the ground. The helicopter was on cal at the time of the 2p.m. accident, the medical team had flown to the property to provide urgent medical treatment to a 42-year-old German resident. The helicopter had landed close to the house and the team had also called on the support of Andratx Red Cross. Fortunately the Heli-Med doctor decided that it was not necessary to airlift the patient to hospital and that he was fit enough to be taken by ambulance. The four crew managed to get out of the helicopter before it caught fire and were able to quickly extinguish the flames. Andratx local police were first at the scene and looked after the four crew while also taking statements about what happened.