In brief
Emergency responders in Quebec are on the lookout for four people who went missing after a medical helicopter, operated by Airmedic, crashed into a lake late Friday evening. The tragic incident involved five individuals on board, comprising four crew members and a patient.
According to Airmedic manager Raphaele Bourgault, one person was rescued with non-life-threatening injuries and transported to a nearby hospital, but it remains uncertain if this individual was a crew member. The crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. in a forested region north of Natashquan, Quebec. The provincial police have enlisted the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces in the ongoing search efforts. Ground, water, and aerial teams are actively searching for the missing individuals, as confirmed by Sgt. Laurie Avoine of the Quebec provincial police. Nicholas Defalco, a spokesman for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, stated that the crash happened shortly after the helicopter's takeoff, with details regarding the flight's destination and departure sites still undisclosed. In light of the incident, Airmedic, which operates a fleet of seven planes and six helicopters, announced the immediate suspension of its air operations. The village of Natashquan, with a population of 300, is situated on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and as the hometown of famed Québécois artist Gilles Vigneault. The area's Côte-Nord region attracts visitors for its whale-watching opportunities and stunning forests.
