‘At least five missing’ as firefighting helicopter crashes into Portuguese river with ‘pilot rescued by tourist boat’
- The helicopter crashed into the Douro River near the northern city of Lamego
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A firefighting helicopter with at least six people on board has crashed into a river in northern Portugal.
The helicopter pilot was reportedly rescued by a tourist boat on the Douro River.
At least five police officers on board the helicopter, which is believed to be underwater, are still missing after the crash in Cambres, near the town of Lamego.
According to local reports, the police are part of an emergency protection and assistance unit of the GPR police, the UEPS.
At around 12:30 this afternoon, the alarm was raised and a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched in the area.
GNR leader Mafalda Gomes de Almeida has confirmed that the only person rescued so far is the helicopter pilot, who has been taken to a nearby hospital.
He suffered several fractures and is suffering from hypothermia after the crash, local media reported. reportsbut is not in mortal danger.
According to reports, the helicopter had returned from fighting a fire in Baião, about 72 kilometres east of the city of Porto.