A firefighting Erickson-type helicopter made a forced sea landing a short while ago in the marine area of the Elefsina Gulf. The three people on board are in good health and have already been recovered from the sea. The helicopter was attempting to collect water, and behind it, at a higher altitude, was a second helicopter performing the same water refilling procedure. For unknown reasons, the helicopter was forced to make a sea landing. The causes that led to the forced landing are currently unknown.

Photo of the helicopter / SOURCE: Facebook – Fire Updates

The helicopter, which is leased, was operating at the fire that broke out in the Imeros Topos area of Aspropyrgos, in low vegetation.

It is noted that a coast guard officer immediately boarded a speedboat belonging to a private boating school and went to the incident site, where he recovered the three people on board – two Americans and the Greek liaison – who were then transferred to a Coast Guard vessel that rushed to the area. They were taken to a nearby beach where an ambulance was waiting. They are in good health and appear to have only abrasions at first glance; however, they will be examined by doctors at Attikon Hospital.