Witness recalls seeing helicopter ‘spiralling’ before crashing and killing three in UK town

Another described the ‘chaotic’ scene

1 hour ago

Hayley Soen | News

A witness has spoken out after watching a horrific helicopter crash that killed three in the Isle of Wight this weekend. Emergency services rushed to the scene after they were alerted at around 9.24am on Monday morning. It’s been confirmed three of the four onboard have died.

The aircraft was carrying four people, including the pilot, when it crashed in a field near Shanklin. The crash is said to have happened during a flying lesson. One person survived the impact, and they have been taken to the trauma centre at University Hospital Southampton.

One witness, Leigh Goldsmith, has since spoken out about what she saw. She said she saw the helicopter “spiralling” as she was in a car driving nearby. Speaking to the Isle of Wight County Press, Leigh said she had been driving towards Shanklin when the helicopter disappeared, and came down in a hedge. She then went to the scene of the crash and saw what looked like airbags under the wreckage.

She explained it looked as though there were two passengers in the front, and two in the back of the aircraft. She immediately rang the police. Leigh explained fire were first on the scene. Police, land ambulance, air ambulance and coastguard arrived shortly afterwards.

via Isle of Wight County Press/Solent News/Shutterstock

A manager of a holiday park near the crash scene has also spoken out. She told the BBC authorities “closed off all the roads” and described the situation as “chaotic”.

Snoop Dogg branded ‘homophobic’ after weird comments about gay people, and people are angry

Burger King responds after employee who ran restaurant alone for 12 hours is fired

The brutal real reason nobody from the Love Island cast will be getting brand deals this year

Fleur Sanders, manager of the Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park in Wroxall, Ventnor said right now is the height of the park’s busy summer season, and explained there are “guests that can’t get access…there’s a long diversion, tourists and motor homes are trying to come in”.

“They’ve closed off all the roads at the moment,” she said, and added: “It’s been a bit chaotic.”

The Shanklin Town Council released a statement on Monday, and said it was “shocked” to hear about the incident. “This bank holiday, as well as hosting the scooter rally on the island, has many organised events that run from Sandown airport. One of those is the regular flights that give visitors the ability to view the coastline from the air,” a statement read.

“This is a tragic accident and the pilot deserves huge credit for bringing down the helicopter in a field away from any built up areas. Our thoughts and prays are with the individuals involved as well as their immediate families, not forgetting the quick action and professionalism of our emergency services.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Joe Robertson, MP for the Isle of Wight East has since told people to avoid the area. “Where the helicopter came down is fairly rural,” he said. “It’s surrounded by fields and a road that runs from Shanklin and Sandown, which are on the east, quite well-known for their beaches, through to Ventnor in the south, which is part of the rocky part of south of the island. It is not in a very populated area, albeit it seems to be fairly close to a road that runs between two towns.”

The Air Accident Investigation Branch [AAIB] has launched an investigation and said: “A team of inspectors has been sent to the accident site to gather evidence and make inquiries.” It is not yet clear what the cause of the crash was, and investigations continue.

For more, like The Tab on Facebook. Featured image via Isle of Wight County Press/Solent News/Shutterstock.