A Perth man has recounted a horror helicopter crash in Bali, describing how he helped pull fellow passengers from the wreckage.
Chris Marrot-Castellat 49, was one of five passengers on board an afternoon scenic flight on Friday afternoon for his friend Russell Harris’ 46th birthday.
They never expected the frightening end to the flight that came next.
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Marrot-Castellat described hearing “crunching, banging and cracking” sounds as the chopper came down.
“I think we travelled for about three minutes and I felt the chopper drop roughly 20 to 30 metres,” he said.
“Essentially we had a bit of a rollercoaster loop downwards and that’s when I realised, ‘Wow, this is real’.”
The helicopter crashed between cliffs near Suluban Beach, west of South Kuta, after being brought down by the strings of a kite.
As an army veteran Chris has helicopter experience.
He turned off the engine and unclipped himself, Harris’ partner, Kayla, and the photographer.
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“I thought maybe he was dead ’cause there was no response from him,” he said.
“I heard Kayla screaming that she couldn’t breathe.
“It could have been many, many scenarios and we essentially got the best out of the worst situation.”
Marrot-Castellat was rushed to hospital with a few bumps and bruises, and phoned his family back in Perth.
His son Jacob said he thought the worst.
“I know he’s able to talk but I’m not sure how bad his injuries were,” he said.
“I believe there was something guiding that, ’cause what are the chances?
“I did ask dad, ‘Was it like Black Hawke Down, was it like that movie?’ and he said, ‘Yeah essentially’.”
Miraculously all five people on board survived with only minor injuries.
Marrot-Castellat, Harris and and his partner have been released from hospital.
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