Friday, August 10, 2007

A third man has died today from injuries sustained in the crash of an Royal Air Force Aérospatiale Puma helicopter in the county of North Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom, earlier this week. Twelve people were on board the aircraft when it crashed near Catterick Garrison army base on Wednesday evening during what is said to have been a routine training exercise.

The man has not been named but is understood to be a soldier from the Infantry Training Battalion at Catterick. Brigadier David Clements of the Commandant Infantry Training Centre said “We are all deeply saddened by the news that one of the recruits involved in Wednesday’s helicopter accident has died as a result of the injuries he sustained. His family were with him when he passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this most difficult time.”

Flight Lieutenant David Sale, aged 28, and Sergeant Phillip Burfoot, aged 27, died at the scene of the crash.