Four British tourists feared dead in New Zealand glacier helicopter crash

The helicopter crashed at about 11 a.m. on the popular tourist destination on New Zealand’s South Island.

Rescuers found the wreck of the aircraft in a 2,500ft crevasse on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island, but could not reach it because of the hard terrain.

Two British couples and two Australians are among seven people who died when a helicopter crashed on a scenic New Zealand glacier.

The victims were identified as Britons Andrew Virco, 50, and Katharine Walker, 51, of Cambridge, Nigel Edwin Charlton, 66, and Cynthia Charlton of Hampshire along with South Australians Leang Sovannmony, 27 and Josephine Gibson 29.

An operation to recover the bodies was under way but being hampered by bad weather.

Reports in New Zealand said Mr Gameren was believed to be an experienced flier.

He said it was too soon to know what might have caused the crash, but police, the Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Accident Investigation Commission were investigating.

Rob Jewell, chairman of Glacier Country Tourism, said this afternoon the alpine cliff rescue team and local search and rescue team were still involved in the recovery operation.

“I am advised that the location and weather conditions at the crash site are hard and full details of the crash are yet to emerge”.

Four tourists from United Kingdom, two from Australia, a New Zealand pilot were on-board.

A recovery team prepares to leave for the crash site.

Low clouds and rain showers were in the area, Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn told The Associated Press.

The names and nationalities of the pilot and six passengers were not immediately available.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we’re very sorry to hear about the accident”, he said.

The helicopter reportedly belongs to Alpine Adventures, which is one of many companies that run helicopter and private charter sightseeing trips for tourists around the eight-mile-long glacier.

In 2010, nine people died when a plane carrying skydivers – which was heading to Fox Glacier – crashed shortly after take-off.

Mr Bray said his stepson was a very safety-conscious pilot who had been flying for more than five years and had nearly completed 3000 flying hours.