Governor Ambode

Kazeem Ugbodaga.

Four people have been confirmed dead, six rescued and two others still missing in the helicopter which crashed into the Lagos Lagoon at Oworonshoki area of Lagos Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency officials, as at the time of filing this report, are still trying to recover two missing people who are the pilots of the Bristow helicopter.

Michael Akindele, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA confirmed that four people have been recovered dead and six others rescued alive.

He said of the six rescued, four were taken to the Gbagada General Hospital and two others to a private hospital in Oworonshoki.

He said the agency got a distress call around 3pm that a helicopter had crashed into the Lagoon, saying that the agency quickly activated the emergency response.

Akindele said the cause of the crash could not be ascertained yet as investigation still on.

Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe also confirmed that four dead bodies had been removed from the crash and six others rescued.

He disclosed that 12 passengers were on board when the crash occurred and that two people were still missing which he said were the pilots of the helicopter.

Fadipe added that a part of the wrecked helicopter had been recovered while rescue operation was still on.

He said the crash might be as a result of engine problem, but noted that it had not yet been ascertained.

Deputy Governor Lagos State, Dr Oluranti Adebule was at the scene of the tragedy to commiserate with the victims and ordered for expedited action.

She later went to the hospitals where those rescued were taken to ensure they were well taken care of.

Emergency responders at the scene were LASEMA, police, NEMA, Navy, Fire Services, among others.

Earlier, Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state commiserated with the victims of the helicopter crash. The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, added that the government dispatched its emergency team to the site upon hearing of the accident, informing that top officials of the government were at the site on the directive of the governor to get first hand information on the accident and offer necessary support and assistance while also allaying the fears of residents of the area over the unfortunate incident.

The Deputy Governor was also at the Gbagada General Hospital where four of the survivors were brought for medical attention and she offered words of encouragement to the injured passengers, assuring them that the best of medical care would be made available for them at the hospital.