Close X
Monday, September 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canadian Teenager Dies After Pearl Harbor Helicopter Crash

The Canadian Press, 23 Feb, 2016 10:09 AM
    HONOLULU — A 16-year-old passenger died Monday after being injured last week in a Pearl Harbor helicopter crash, hospital officials said.
     
    The teen and three family members visiting from Canada were aboard a tour helicopter when it crashed into the water near the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center on Thursday.
     
    Their names have not been released.
     
    Two family members remain hospitalized in stable condition. Another was treated and released.
     
    "So that the 16-year-old's memory lives on, the family has chosen to donate his organs to patients in need," Gidget Ruscetta, chief operating officer at Pali Momi Medical Center, said in a statement.
     
    No information was available for the pilot, who was taken to another hospital.
     
    Federal agencies are investigating the crash.
     
    The boy was trapped underwater and had to be cut free from his seat, according to witnesses.
     
    Federal records show the helicopter is registered to Jeffrey Gebhard of Kailua, Hawaii. The Navy said the helicopter reportedly belongs to Genesis Aviation. The website for Genesis Helicopters says it was founded by Gebhard and conducts tours over Oahu.
     
     
     
    A call to Gebhard was not answered on Monday. A man who answered at a number listed for him last week declined comment, citing the investigation.
     
    Civilian divers floated the helicopter to the surface Friday and a crane pulled it out. The Navy said the aircraft was taken to Genesis Aviation's hangar at the airport, where the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation.
     
    It was the second major crash this year involving helicopters on Oahu.
     
    Twelve Hawaii-based Marines were killed when two military helicopters crashed during nighttime training on Jan. 14. Both aircraft were CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters that were part of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463.
     
    Shawn Winrich, visiting from Madison, Wisconsin, was taking photos of Pearl Harbor when he saw the helicopter headed toward the popular tourist destination.
     
    He switched to video, recording the helicopter's dramatic drop into the water.
     
    "All of a sudden it essentially just fell out of the sky and crash-landed in the water," he said last week.
     
    He stopped filming and jumped in to help.
     
    The Honolulu Emergency Services Department took the teen to the hospital in critical condition.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Dozens Displaced After Fire At Downtown Vancouver Social Housing Complex

    Dozens Displaced After Fire At Downtown Vancouver Social Housing Complex
     Dozens of people were displaced Saturday by a two-alarm fire in a downtown Vancouver social housing complex, but most were expected to return later that evening.

    Dozens Displaced After Fire At Downtown Vancouver Social Housing Complex

    Canadian Cities To Tame Downtown White Elephants Of 'Wrong-headed Planning'

    Canadian Cities To Tame Downtown White Elephants Of 'Wrong-headed Planning'
    After the colossal Georgia Viaduct was built in 1972, a grassroots uproar stopped the construction of what would have been a multi-lane expressway.

    Canadian Cities To Tame Downtown White Elephants Of 'Wrong-headed Planning'

    Avian Flu Response Gets $300,000 Funding Boost From Canada And B.C. Governments

    The federal and British Columbia governments are investing $300,000 to step up avian flu surveillance, early detection and response efforts.

    Avian Flu Response Gets $300,000 Funding Boost From Canada And B.C. Governments

    Tax Rates Changes And TFSA Limit Reduction Means Reviewing Your Financial Plan

    Tax Rates Changes And TFSA Limit Reduction Means Reviewing Your Financial Plan
    The vast majority of Canadians will not be affected by the new tax bracket for income over $200,000 a year, but everyone will see their tax-free savings account contribution limit be reduced back to $5,500 for 2016.

    Tax Rates Changes And TFSA Limit Reduction Means Reviewing Your Financial Plan

    Murder Charges Laid In Deadly Alberta Convenience Store Robberies

    Laylin Delorme, 24, Colton Steinhauer, 27, and the youth who can't be named were arrested Friday morning.

    Murder Charges Laid In Deadly Alberta Convenience Store Robberies

    Social Media Playing Key Role As Syrian Refugees Arrive In Canada

    Val Macdonald says it only took a few minutes before a little red notification popped up on her Facebook page after posting about donations for a Syrian refugee family.

    Social Media Playing Key Role As Syrian Refugees Arrive In Canada