2 injured in helicopter crash in provincial park near Gravenhurst

Two people were injured after a helicopter crashed in a provincial park southeast of Gravenhurst, Ontario, on Saturday.

The helicopter crashed in a remote, wooded area in Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Capt. Trevor Reid, public affairs officer for 8 Wing CFB Trenton, said on Sunday.

“It was an austere area,” Reid said.

According to the OPP, the crash site was near the rural community of Coopers Falls, about 160 kilometres north of Toronto.

OPP were called shortly before 6 p.m. about the crash.

Police said one person suffered serious injuries, while the other suffered minor injuries in the crash. The ages and sexes of the crash victims were not released.

OPP originally reported three people were injured.

Crash site described as ‘inaccessible’

Crews from the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre Trenton, which is based at 8 Wing CFB Trenton, airlifted one injured person to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. Crews used a CH-146 Griffon Helicopter from 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron.

“Search and rescue technicians were lowered to the ground via hoist,” Reid said.

Crews then airlifted the victims out, he added.

OPP and the Gravenhurst Fire Department helped to rescue the crash victims. “Certainly we are glad that we were able to be of assistance to those of the injured,” Reid said.

In a tweet, the Gravenhurst Fire Department said reaching the site, which was “inaccessible,” proved to be challenging.

“This response involved multiple agencies responding to render assistance to persons in need,” it said.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has been notified about the crash early Sunday.