Preliminary Post-Mortem Indicates Impact Did Not Cause Fatal Injuries

The three men aboard a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter that went down last week in the Arctic Ocean were not fatally injured by the impact, but succumbed to hypothermia after about an hour in the water, according to Cathy Menard, Northwest Territories chief coroner.

The three were aboard a Messerschmitt BO 105S helo conducting ice reconnaissance from the Coast Guard Vessel Amundsen. They were reportedly just minutes away from the ship by air when radio contact was lost, according to a report from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

All three were wearing survival suits when they were found in the water. Menard said it did not appear that any of the three was seriously injured by the impact with the water. She said it appeared they had been in the water about an hour, and the investigation will include an attempt to establish a timeline from the last radio contact with the aircraft to the discovery of the crew.

The CTSB is working to salvage the helicopter from McClure Strait north of Banks Island.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.justice.gov.nt.ca/Coroner/coroner_chief.shtml?