A man who crashed a helicopter while frost-fighting at a vineyard northwest of Tarras was "extraordinarily lucky" to survive, a colleague and an aviation authority spokesman say.
The crash happened about 4.30am yesterday at Swallows Crossing Vineyard. The pilot managed to get out of the wrecked Guimbal Cabri helicopter and walked away with moderate injuries, although he was later admitted to Dunstan Hospital in Clyde.
His injuries are believed to include cracked ribs and bruising. The helicopter hit a vineyard pole after the pilot opened a door to get his bearings when the cabin windows became fogged up, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.
CAA communications manager Mike Richards said the man was "very lucky to be alive".
The authority was satisfied the crash was caused by pilot error, he said. It did not name the man, but police, in a earlier statement said the pilot was in his 60s.