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What: NSW Rural Fire Service Bell B206L-1 LongRanger II performing bushfire surveillance
Where: 5km SE of Dorrigo, on the mid-north coast, NSW Australia
When: Dec 9. 2009 11:30 am
Who: Pilot and passenger
Why: While conducting bushfire surveillance while fighting a fire, the helicopter went down in the rainforest. The passenger, a 41-year-old National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger died. He had been a ranger for 12 years.
In Dorrigo Hospital, the pilot is fighting for his life, after sustaining critical chest, head and back injuries. He will be airlifted to a major hospital later on Wednesday
The pilot has over 3000 flying hours. This is the third serious firefighting helicopter incident in the past 48 hours.
1,500 firefighters continue to fight the fire caused by dry conditions and lightning strikes. Unrelated to the helicopter crash, other individuals have been injured in the fire.
