Close X
Friday, October 4, 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

    Vancouver Santa Claus Parade Marks 35th Anniversary Of Marathon Of Hope

    Vancouver Santa Claus Parade Marks 35th Anniversary Of Marathon Of Hope
    The father of Marathon of Hope runner Terry Fox has been named grand marshal of Vancouver's 12th annual Santa Claus parade.

    Vancouver Santa Claus Parade Marks 35th Anniversary Of Marathon Of Hope

    Reza Moazami, B.C. Man Who Trafficked Underage Girls Is Sentenced To 23 Years In Prison

    Reza Moazami, B.C. Man Who Trafficked Underage Girls Is Sentenced To 23 Years In Prison
    Reza Moazami will be given five years' credit for time served awaiting trial, meaning his remaining sentence is just under 18 years. 

    Reza Moazami, B.C. Man Who Trafficked Underage Girls Is Sentenced To 23 Years In Prison

    Vancouver Island Company Works With Airbus To Create New Water Bomber

    The Coulson Group of Canada has inked a memorandum of understanding with Airbus Defence and Space to work on the water bomber version of the Airbus C295W transport aircraft.

    Vancouver Island Company Works With Airbus To Create New Water Bomber

    B.C. Human-Rights Complaint Continues To Percolate Against Tim Hortons

    The complainants, employed under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, argued they were discriminated against because of their race, ancestry and place of origin.

    B.C. Human-Rights Complaint Continues To Percolate Against Tim Hortons

    Advocacy Group Wants Hospitals To Expand Visiting Hours, Says Better For Patients

    When Martin Hinrichs-Pymm was in intensive care last fall after having part of his liver removed to donate to his critically ill mother, there was one thing he wanted most: to have the rest of his family and friends around him 

    Advocacy Group Wants Hospitals To Expand Visiting Hours, Says Better For Patients

    Impact Of Syrian Refugee Promise On Immigration Levels Undetermined: John McCallum

    Impact Of Syrian Refugee Promise On Immigration Levels Undetermined: John McCallum
    he time-sensitive nature of the Liberal commitment to Syrian refugees will dominate the first few months of the government's actions on the immigration file as a whole, the immigration minister says.

    Impact Of Syrian Refugee Promise On Immigration Levels Undetermined: John McCallum