The Full details of the ill-fated Bristow helicopter crash in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos has been revealed.
A part debris from the crashed helicopter
Bristow Helicopters chopper plunged into the Lagos Lagoon on the 12th of August at about 3:10pm at Oworonsoki with a total of 14 people aboard.
The crashed plane was sighted by fishermen who swung into action immediately to rescue the victims. 8 people survived and are currently receiving treatment due to varying degrees of injuries sustained. Four dead bodies were recovered on the first day while two others were discovered the following day. Their bodies have been desposited at the morgue.
The chopper, marked 5N – BDG – 760540, was flying from an oil rig between Ondo and Lagos states, with contractors of a dredging company, Indigo, who were returning to base. Eyewitnesses said they saw the chopper spinning before nose-diving 900 metres from the shore.
The victims, The Nation gathered, had spent two weeks on the rig and were coming back for their two-week break, as it is the practice.
Rumors have it that one person walked out of the crash without assistance. He was taken to the hospital on a motorcycle. The others had fractured limbs.
According to dredgers on Alonge Street, where the chopper nose-dived, the six persons rescued alive included a man who allegedly walked out of the crashed chopper, had serious injuries and was in pains. They alleged that the co-pilot, who was among those rescued, had broken limbs and held his back, gasping for air.
The dredgers told The Nation of their efforts at rescuing the passengers before emergency agencies arrived at the scene about 45 minutes later.
Ihindu, who alleged that his divers and equipment were deployed immediately the incident occurred, said one of the rescued passengers told them there were 14 people on board, including a woman.
He said all those rescued were male, identifying them as Solomon Ude, Joshua Emekanma, Chukwudi Onah, Dolu Ebiejuara, Iniala Paimi and Onoriode Ojiete.
Recounting how the chopper came down, Ihindu said it was very fast, adding that they had noticed it flying very low.
According to him, the chopper nose-dived into the lagoon.
He said local divers recovered eight persons-seven injured and one dead- who were handed over to the police for further action.
Corroborating his story, a woman who identified herself as Ibirounke said: “We were here working when it happened. The helicopter was flying towards this direction at low height. But, suddenly it started spinning and turned on the opposite direction before going underwater.
“Our men saved all those who were alive. We rescued eight people from this side and of the eight, one died. Seven others survived though they had serious injuries and some have drunk water.
“On the other side, three other bodies were recovered, making four dead. Some of the victims who could talk told us that they work for Indigo Dredging.”
When The Nation visited the scene, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele; Southwest Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Onimode Bamdele, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, personnel from the Nigerian Navy, NSCDC, NAMA, AIB, among others were on ground.
Shoes, bags, life-jackets and other personal effects of the victims recovered from the wrecked aircraft were seen within the premises of a neearby police station.
In a joint situation report by LASEMA, NEMA and Fire Service, Akindele said two of the injured persons were at Afolabi Hospital. Four others were receiving treatment at the Gbagada General Hospital.
He said the bodies of the dead had been deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, adding that the rescuers could neither state the airline, nor the exact number of those onboard.