Two people are feared dead and three have been injured after a helicopter crash at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
The helicopter crashed into the water just 250 metres from the Hardy Reef Pontoon, around 65km (40 miles) from Airlie Beach, reports Courier Mail.
The Civil Aviation Authority says that five people were travelling in the helicopter at the time with one person in a serious condition and two with minor injuries.
Queensland Ambulance Service are at the scene and a paramedic has been winched down to assess the injured.
The crash site is about 65km north-east of Australia's Whitsunday Islands. The area is popular with tourists wishing to view a combination of reef and fish life.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau wrote on Facebook: “ATSB will be investigating the collision with water of a single-engine EC120B helicopter which occurred in the vicinity of Hardy Reef, north-west of Hook Island, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland this afternoon.
“A team of Transport Safety Investigators will soon travel to the accident location to commence the evidence collection phase of the investigation.
There, investigators will interview witnesses, examine any available recorded data, review operational records and technical documentation amongst other activities.”
In an earlier statement Queensland Police said: “Police are currently en-route to Hardys Reef after reports of a helicopter crash.
The crash site is approximately 65kms north east of the Whitsundays and it is believed that 5 people were on board however their condition is not known at this stage.
Police Vessel Damien Leeding and other vessels are currently traveling to the site with police and other emergency services.
There is no further information available at this time.”
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