Three people have survived a helicopter crash near point Lonsdale on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula this morning. The circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined.
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00:00A pilot and two passengers were on board the helicopter when it plunged into waters between Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove at about 10 o'clock this morning.
00:11Now, within minutes, firefighters managed to make their way to the scene.
00:14They had to battle some quite tricky conditions, climbing over sand dunes, as well as battling their way through thick shrub before they managed to make their way to the scene,
00:22where they found the helicopter in waters about 30 to 50 metres from the shoreline.
00:26Now, one of the first responders on the scene said that when he got there, the three people were understandably in a bit of shock that they'd suffered serious injuries.
00:35He, alongside fellow firefighters, as well as some passers-by, managed to drag them into the shoreline, where they then received some first aid treatment.
00:43Now, a man and a woman were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital via air ambulance,
00:48and a man was also taken by road to Geelong University Hospital, where he remains there in a stable condition.
00:54Now, at this stage, it's unclear what the cause of the crash was.
00:57The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is the organisation leading the charge of this investigation,
01:02has confirmed that this was a Robinson helicopter, and its engine failed, which forced the pilot to ditch it into the water.
01:10From here, the Bureau says there'll now be quite a detailed investigation,
01:13which will involve speaking to eyewitnesses, examining the recovered wreckage,
01:17as well as reviewing maintenance records of the helicopter.
01:19The Bureau says a final report into the cause of the crash will be published at the conclusion of its investigation.