Brits survive helicopter crash

Saturday, 20 December 2003 11:18 AM

Two British helicopter pilots missing in Antarctica have been found and are receiving medical assistance.

Sixty-three year old Jennifer Murray, a world record holder for conducting solo flights, and Colin Bodill, 54, were attempting a first; to fly around the globe in a helicopter via South and North poles.

But their Bell 407 helicopter went down 120 miles north of Patriot Hills on the northern section of the Ronne Ice Shelf.

Grandmother Murray and Bodill managed to pitch a tent in freezing temperatures as low as -40C and then waited for help.

The Falkland Islands Rescue Centre and the British Antarctic Survey were alerted to the emergency by colleagues at RAF Kinloss in Scotland, who raised the alarm at 0100 GMT.

Ms Murray from Somerset, a friend of the Duchess of York, is nursing a broken arm, and Mr Bodill from Nottingham, who has injuries consistent with high-impact crashes, possibly sustained chest injuries, are expected to fly to Chile on Saturday afternoon.

They reached the South Pole in her helicopter earlier this week at the start of their mammoth 33,000-mile trip.

The Polar First mission, which started on 22 October, is expected to take more than five months and includes 160 stop-offs en route as the pilots highlight the work of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

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