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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Helicopter survivor recalls crash | Helicopter survivor recalls crash |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| A passenger on the helicopter that came down over the North Sea said he felt an impact moments before it hit the water. | A passenger on the helicopter that came down over the North Sea said he felt an impact moments before it hit the water. |
| Finlay McGregor, from Tain, in Ross-shire, said: "It was if something had fallen off, or we'd hit something. It felt like being rear ended by a truck." | Finlay McGregor, from Tain, in Ross-shire, said: "It was if something had fallen off, or we'd hit something. It felt like being rear ended by a truck." |
| The welder was among 18 people on board the Super Puma that came down 125 miles east of Aberdeen on Wednesday evening. All were rescued. | The welder was among 18 people on board the Super Puma that came down 125 miles east of Aberdeen on Wednesday evening. All were rescued. |
| The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is probing the ditching. | The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is probing the ditching. |
| We'd been knee deep in water inside the helicopter Finlay McGregor | |
| Mr McGregor, 56, said the impact was felt as the helicopter made its final approach to a platform in the Etap field. | Mr McGregor, 56, said the impact was felt as the helicopter made its final approach to a platform in the Etap field. |
| He told BBC Scotland: "The next thing I knew we were in the water and going through the evacuation process. | He told BBC Scotland: "The next thing I knew we were in the water and going through the evacuation process. |
| "We got the helicopter doors open and everybody was quite calm and helping each other, although we were scared out of our wits. | "We got the helicopter doors open and everybody was quite calm and helping each other, although we were scared out of our wits. |
| "We'd been knee deep in water inside the helicopter. | "We'd been knee deep in water inside the helicopter. |
| "Happily the helicopter stayed afloat and I was glad to get into a life raft and was glad that the sea was calm." | "Happily the helicopter stayed afloat and I was glad to get into a life raft and was glad that the sea was calm." |
| Mr McGregor said the lights from helicopters looking for them could be seen through fog. | Mr McGregor said the lights from helicopters looking for them could be seen through fog. |
| Distress flares were fired from the life rafts to help guide rescuers to their position. | Distress flares were fired from the life rafts to help guide rescuers to their position. |
| The welder added: "We were really, really cold and a few were being sea sick. We waited around an hour for rescue - but it seemed a lot longer." | The welder added: "We were really, really cold and a few were being sea sick. We waited around an hour for rescue - but it seemed a lot longer." |
| He also thanked the crew of the vessel Caledonian Victory which picked up 15 of the men and took them to Aberdeen. | He also thanked the crew of the vessel Caledonian Victory which picked up 15 of the men and took them to Aberdeen. |