Deceased pilot Haydn Redfern was an adventurer who had survived an encounter with a saltwater croc.
Supplied
Adrian Taylor | 10th September 2011
Haydn Redfern was at the controls when a six-seater AS350 Squirrel carrying two passengers plunged into dense vegetation deep in the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, 80 kilometres north of Rockhampton.
It is believed he was killed instantly as the chopper came to rest upside down in mountainous terrain. His front seat passenger, Wayne Schofield, also died in his seat, but a 55-year-old Canberra man survived and was able to speak with police yesterday about his terrifying ordeal and the four hours or so he was trapped in the wreckage with two corpses awaiting rescue.
Mr Redfern, from Cairns, narrowly escaped with his life about 18 months ago when a saltwater crocodile launched at him when he stumbled into a creek on a fishing trip to Cape York.
The giant croc's jaws snapped within a metre of him and had a second attempt at biting him before chasing Mr Redfern into scrub.
Two friends who were with him on that trip said the pilot had laughed off the encounter as just another of his "close shaves".
Mr Redfern was an experienced helicopter pilot who had been involved in forced landings and crashes and just a few months ago he survived a crash in Papua New Guinea.
His friend, Don Little, flew to Yeppoon with Mr Redfern last Tuesday.
"He always lived life the fullest," he said. "We had a great time down there and when I spoke to him the night before the crash he was talking about how rugged the country was," he said.
"He had many close shaves, but even when he was nearly taken by the croc, he just laughed it off.
"The only reason he wasn't taken is that he was so fit and agile. Anyone else probably wouldn't have reacted so quickly.
"The chopper he was flying is one of the safest machines around, especially if you lose power, so to see the wreckage of it must mean something went seriously wrong for it to end up on its roof like that."
He described Mr Redfern as the most generous of men.
"If there was any way to save a life, he would've done it."
Relatives of the two dead men were in Rockhampton yesterday afternoon to formally identify their remains.
Mr Redfern worked for the Cairns based company, Heli Charters which yesterday evening released a short statement.
"At this stage, we are assisting police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with all investigations and would like to express sincere condolences and support to all relatives and friends during this painful time.
"The loss of two friends and colleagues is deeply felt by Heli Charters management and staff."
Wayne Schofield was a senior consultant for PS Management Consultants and lived in Canberra providing services to a range of defence projects.
He was carrying out routine maintenance inspections on communications towers, under contract from the Department of Defence.
Prior to joining the consultancy he had 26 years as a technician in the RAAF and is described on the company's website as the singular expert on the ADF's aircraft maintenance management logistic information system.
His colleague, so far un-named, was a rear seat passenger who survived relatively unscathed and was able to raise the alarm by mobile phone.
Police are working to prepare a report for the coroner and Australian Transport Safety Bureau officials will prepare a separate report on the tragedy.
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