Pair rescued from burning helicopter after Lake Vyrnwy crash

A couple were pulled from the wreckage of their helicopter moments before it burst into flames after crashing into the side of a mountain at a Mid Wales beauty spot.

The helicopter was heading for the landing pad at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel but crashed and caught fire about 100 yards (90m) away. Staff from the hotel were quickly on the scene and helped free the couple.

The 30-year-old man and the 32-year-old woman escaped serious injury and waited at the hotel until the arrival of paramedics, at which point they were airlifted in an RAF Valley helicopter to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

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It is believed the couple were visiting the area for the day in their own Robinson R22 helicopter.

Mid and West Wales Fire Service said they took a call at 1.15pm yesterday saying a light aircraft had crashed into a hillside by the hotel.

The Air Accidents Investigations Branch said that it was now looking into the cause of the crash.

Anthony Rosser, general manager of the hotel, said staff at the hotel had witnessed the crash and had gone to the aid of the couple who he described as 'walking wounded'.

"I can confirm that a small privately-owned helicopter coming to land at the hotel crashed just after 1pm," he said.

"Two people were on board. They were walking wounded with cuts and bruises.

"We have a landing area – they were approaching that and landed in a field approximately 100 yards from the landing area. They weren't booked to stay at the hotel."

He added that the pair appeared to have had a lucky escape.

The Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said appliances from Llanfyllin, Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion had attended the scene.

Catharine Evan-Wiliams, Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman, said details had been passed onto the Air Accidents Investigations Branch.

A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed that a man and woman had been aboard the aircraft and were flown to hospital.

Lake Vyrnwy is a popular walking and cycling location situated about 40 miles from Shrewsbury in the Welsh Hills.

See also:

• Helicopter crashes near Lake Vyrnwy