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| New Zealand helicopter crash: Two British couples among dead | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police in New Zealand have released the names of four Britons killed in a helicopter crash. | Police in New Zealand have released the names of four Britons killed in a helicopter crash. |
| They are Andrew Virco, 50, and his partner Katharine Walker, 51, from Cambridge, and Nigel Charlton, 66, and his wife Cynthia, 70, from Hampshire. | They are Andrew Virco, 50, and his partner Katharine Walker, 51, from Cambridge, and Nigel Charlton, 66, and his wife Cynthia, 70, from Hampshire. |
| The aircraft crashed in a crevasse on the Fox Glacier, on New Zealand's South Island, on Saturday morning. | The aircraft crashed in a crevasse on the Fox Glacier, on New Zealand's South Island, on Saturday morning. |
| The crash site is on the island's remote west coast, which is a popular tourist area. | The crash site is on the island's remote west coast, which is a popular tourist area. |
| A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing consular assistance to their families at this difficult time." | A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing consular assistance to their families at this difficult time." |
| Also among the dead are Leang Sovannmony, 27, and Josephine Gibson, 29, both from South Australia, and pilot Mitch Gameren, a 28-year-old New Zealander. | Also among the dead are Leang Sovannmony, 27, and Josephine Gibson, 29, both from South Australia, and pilot Mitch Gameren, a 28-year-old New Zealander. |
| 'Extremely challenging' | |
| Rescue teams in helicopters reached the crash site but found no sign of survivors, rescue co-ordinators said. | Rescue teams in helicopters reached the crash site but found no sign of survivors, rescue co-ordinators said. |
| The recovery operation has been hampered by bad weather, but is expected to resume on Sunday, said local police. The cause of the crash is being investigated. | The recovery operation has been hampered by bad weather, but is expected to resume on Sunday, said local police. The cause of the crash is being investigated. |
| A Tasman police spokesman described the operation as "extremely challenging and the safety of those working at the scene is of paramount importance". | |
| Inspector John Canning, the police west coast area commander, told New Zealand's One News: "It's at the top of the glacier and it is heavily crevassed, so very rough country and it is going to take a lot of care to get the people out of there." | |
| The helicopter involved is believed to be a Eurocopter "Squirrel" operated by local firm Alpine Adventures, which also trades as Fox Glacier Heliservices. | |
| In a statement the firm said: "Fox Heliservices' thoughts are with the families of the passengers and pilot. | |
| "The pilot was a very valued member of our team. The New Zealand Police and Civil Aviation Authority have taken over the investigation." |