Emergency services received a call at 3.30pm to reports of a plane upside down in the water, about 50m offshore from Cunningham Pier near Geelong.
The plane was on its way to pick up the American daredevil and his entourage - known for their often dangerous and self-injuring stunts, and films including Jackass, The Movie - when it crashed into Corio Bay, the Geelong Advertiser, sister paper to the Herald Sun, reports.
Margera tweeted soon after the crash: "Just about to drive a motorbike off a pier & get on a seaplane but the plane just crashed. Jesus Christ."
It was initially believed some of Margera’s crew were on the plane, but it has since been confirmed the two passengers were a man and woman, aged between 60 and 80.
Witnesses told of seeing the plane coming in to land before it "dropped from the sky" in front of dozens of onlookers.
Margera was among those who rushed to the scene fearing some of his crew may have been on the plane.
"We saw the plane crash and we saw the plane upside down," he said. For 10 long minutes we thought it was them."
Grant Michell, who called 000, said he was walking along the waterfront with his wife, Raelene, when he saw the plane plunge into the water.
"We were watching it make its descent down on to the water when it appeared to come down too quickly then fall from the sky," he recalled.
SES volunteer Scott Clark said when crews arrived the plane was on its roof at the end of Cunningham Pier.
"The pilot of the seaplane, along with its two passengers, were rescued by a passing boat, and brought to shore at the Western Beach pontoon," Mr Clark said.
"SES rescue crews assisted ambulance crews to recover the two passengers from the plane onto spinal boards, and out of the boat, before being loaded into waiting ambulances.
A Victoria Police spokesman earlier said: “Three people were onboard and they have been rescued and taken to the pier where they are currently being treated.
“It is not yet known if the plane flipped before impact with the water, or after.”
A spokesman for Ambulance Victoria said the pilot and two passengers in the plane had been taken to Geelong Hospital for treatment but were not in a serious condition.
Victoria Police earlier confirmed one person received minor leg injuries.
A Barwon Health spokeswoman confirmed the trio were in a stable condition in Geelong Hospital.
The Water Police are investigating the incident, with plans underway to recover the sunken plane.
Story, photos, video: http://www.news.com.au
Story, photo, video: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au
No comments:
Post a Comment