A helicopter was attempting to land northwest of Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula when it apparently struck a tree and crashed late Thursday, injuring all four people on board.
Lieut. (Navy) Al Blondin of the rescue co-ordination centre in Halifax said there were no fatalities when the Bell 206 chopper went down shortly before 8 p.m.
“There are very serious injuries to the point that they need special facilities,” he said.
The crash occurred about 20 kilometres due south of the community of St. Alban's.
Daniel Oblenis, a spokesman for the RCMP in Newfoundland, said in a short e-mail that the helicopter hit the tree as it was coming in. He didn't provide more details.
“That's what I heard as well…but I can't confirm that information,” said Lieut. Blondin.
A Coromorant helicopter from Gander, N.L., and a civilian chopper carrying a paramedic and a nurse arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and began treating the injured.
One of the injured passengers was airlifted to a nearby medical centre and was to be transferred to a bigger facility in St. John's, N.L.
Lieut. Blondin said the others were still being stabilized on the ground late in the night and would also be taken to St. John's.
The owner of the helicopter wasn't known.
