Britons onboard river plunge helicopter

Last updated at 09:27 15 June 2005


Two British tourists are believed to have been on board a helicopter which plunged into a New York river, it has emerged.

The couple are thought to have been on a sightseeing chopper with five others when it overturned in mid-air and nose-dived into Manhattan's East River within seconds of take-off yesterday evening.

They have been named locally as Karen and Gary Butler, from Chelmsford, Essex.

A spokeswoman at Bellvue Hospital, Manhattan, confirmed a Karen Butler had been admitted yesterday.

"She is in a stable condition on a medical ward," she said.

One person was seen being carried from the scene on a stretcher as police divers helped rescue those involved, who included Australian tourists.

There was no immediate word on what caused the crash but it is understood the pilot lost control when the rotor clipped an object, causing damage.

A police boat was able to get to the overturned helicopter within 30 seconds of the first radio call reporting the crash. Three others arrived shortly after, a spokesman said.

The helicopter, reportedly owned and operated by Helicopter Flight Services, was towed back to a pier in lower Manhattan.

An NYPD spokesman confirmed there were no fatalities.

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