Madagascar minister ‘swims 12 hours’ to shore after helicopter crash

Malagasy minister Serge Gelle was one in every of two survivors to have swum some 12 hours to shore after their helicopter crashed of the island’s northeastern coast, he and nationwide authorities mentioned on Tuesday.
Gelle grew to become minister in August as a part of a cabinet reshuffle carried out below president Andry Rajoelina. Rajoelina gained Madagascar’s presidential elections in 2018.
A search was nonetheless ongoing for 2 different passengers after the crash on Monday.
The reason for the crash was not instantly clear, based on police.
How did Gelle attain land?
Serge Gelle, the nation’s secretary of state for police, and a fellow police officer reached land individually on Tuesday morning. They apparently ejected themselves from the plane earlier than swimming to shore, port authority chief Jean-Edmond Randrianantenaina mentioned.
The two lacking passengers had been additionally members of Madagascar’s police power.

In a video shared the Malagasy protection ministry on Twitter, Gelle seems mendacity on a deck chair, seemingly resting and nonetheless in a camouflage jumpsuit.
“My time to die hasn’t come yet,” mentioned Gelle within the video.
Police chief Zafisambatra Ravoavy mentioned that Gelle had used one of many helicopter’s seats as a flotation machine.

In a Tuesday tweet President Rajoelina praised Gelle for his “dedication” and added Madagascar was totally mobilized to offer any crucial help to the victims of the helicopter crash and an earlier shipwreck.
Where was the helicopter going?
The helicopter was flying its passengers to examine the location of a shipwreck off the northeastern coast of Madagascar.
Rescue staff had recovered 18 extra our bodies from the wreck, Ravoavy mentioned Tuesday. This introduced the demise toll as much as 39.
The boat had 130 passengers on board, of which 45 have been saved.