UPDATE: Tributes pour in for chopper pilot John
He was a well-known and much loved South Coaster.
UPDATE: May 21
THE pilot of the chopper which crashed yesterday, John Rudling was a well-known and much loved South Coast resident.
News of the crash has seen tributes pour in for the popular man, with comments on Facebook including heart-felt messages of condolence to his family:
Veronica Harrison: Such a tragic accident. RIP To his family and friends deepest sympathy to you all.
Sally Weir Kruger: RIP John. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Jean Schmidt: Very very sad. I knew him. May he rest in peace.
Colleen Haggard: Deepest sympathy to the pilot’s family and friends.
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UPDATE: May 20
The pilot, believed to be in his mid-40s, was spraying the cane fields when the chopper went down.
Authorities are now waiting for representatives from civil aviation to arrive in order for official investigations into the cause of the crash to begin.
Police spokesman,Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid, confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened.
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ORIGINAL STORY: May 20
REPORTS just in indicate that at crop duster, believed to be a Robinson 22, has crashed at Batstone’s Drift, Port Shepstone.
According to Med-Evac’s Glen Preston, the aircraft appears to have struck a bank and come to rest partially in the water.
The pilot did not survive the crash.
More details to follow as they come to hand.
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