While carrying a donor heart, a chopper crashed on top of an LA hospital.
Even with appropriate precautions, even a relatively short domestic flight carries moderate risks. Yet, an accident that happened only recently is surely not something we hear about every now and then.
Unbelievable footage shows the moment the helicopter loses control, starts spinning, and veered toward the edge of the roof before landing on its side.
In the video, a person below can be heard shouting:
“Hey! Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.”
Thankfully, the three people on board suffered no consequences and the donated heart was still intact – even though it was dropped on the ground.
The private helicopter crash-landed on the helipad of the Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California, as it came from San Diego to bring the life-saving delivery.
Apparently, the helicopter had to be opened with the ‘jaws of life‘ tool, or hydraulic rescue tools, to save the donor heart.
#abc7eyewitness
Keck USC hospital Helicopter crash. pic.twitter.com/WPqEKypJcM— Mitch Cumstein (@robpriceincali) November 7, 2020
The rescue workers handed the organ to a medical worker, who promptly turned around and rushed inside the hospital. Yet, as he walked away from the crash scene, a medical officer was tripping and dropping it.
Luckily, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the organ was safe and unharmed and it was delivered to the hospital.
A hospital spokesperson later explained that the heart was successfully transplanted into a patient a few hours after the crash.
It was explained that the helicopter’s blades smashed during the crash, and hospital staff said they felt it from inside the multi-story building.
Helicopter crash on top of Keck Hospital at USC medical center. 3 people on board: one pilot, and possibly two doctors. May have been transporting a heart for transplant. Unclear what happened on landing. Pilot is OK, status of two others unknown @CBSLA @KCBSKCALDesk pic.twitter.com/eSqtw0IYAw
— Desmond Shaw (@RoadSageLA) November 6, 2020
Passersby outside went running after debris fell from the chopper. Javier Chamorro, 59, was waiting to pick up his kid in front of the building when the helicopter crashed.
He said:
“The building shook. I thought it was an earthquake.”
In the aftermath video, you can see the pilot as they take him away from the crashed chopper.
He was received in the hospital to be treated for small injuries, while the two people who were on board with him refused medical assistance, and escaped the terrifying rooftop crash uninjured.
LAFD said:
“The aircraft is stable on its side, on the helipad. There does not appear to be a significant fuel leak. The donated organ that was being transported was safely retrieved by LAFD firefighters and handed over to USC-County Hospital staff.”
#LosAngelesCounty #BoyleHeights
BREAKING:
🚨🚨
A Helicopter (used for an organ donor transport) has crashed on top of Keck Hospital USC in Boyle Heights, California.Atleast one person has suffered injuries. This is a developing story.
Credit: ABC7
https://t.co/rUuhAzhDS2 pic.twitter.com/pU4O5S7wwb— Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) November 7, 2020
Reportedly, the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the incident. As Meg Aldrich of Keck Hospital concluded, this is actually “ an amazing story’!
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk