Delaware firefighter falls to death from State Police helicopter during hoisting exercise
Click here if the image above does not display
James Fisher and Adam Duvernay, The News Journal:
A Delaware firefighter has died after falling from a helicopter during a training exercise with the Delaware Air Rescue Team.
The incident occurred while a Delaware State Police aviation unit was conducting monthly “hoist training” with DART at the Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown Monday night.
“Two volunteer firemen, along with a pilot and a trooper medic, were on board the helicopter,” said DSP spokesman Sgt. Richard Bratz. “As one of the firefighters stepped out onto the skid, at an undetermined height, he fell to the grassy area below the helicopter. At that point the helicopter immediately landed and the trooper medic and volunteer firefighter on board immediately responded and began medical assistance.”
A member of the Lewes Fire Department died July 11 during a training exercise in Millsboro. The department announced the passing of one of its members on its Facebook page. The unidentified member was in a Delaware State Police helicopter above Nanticoke Avenue in Millsboro, when he fell out of the helicopter. He was transported to the hospital, where he died of injuries sustained in the accident.
