A chopper carrying a donor heart to a hospital in LA crashed on top of it.
Incredible footage shows the moment the helicopter starts spinning out of control as it is about to crash onto the helipad.
“Hey! Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” a person below can be heard shouting as the chopper’s crash is being recorded.
Thankfully, the three people onboard were not harmed and the donor heart was still intact – despite one person dropping it.
The private chopper which had come from San Diego to bring the life-saving cargo, crash-landed on the helipad of the Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California last Friday.
Reportedly, the helicopter had to be opened with the ‘jaws of life‘ tool so that the donor heart could be saved.
#abc7eyewitness
Keck USC hospital Helicopter crash. pic.twitter.com/WPqEKypJcM— Mitch Cumstein (@robpriceincali) November 7, 2020
However, a medic was tripping and dropping the donor heart as he walked away from the crashed chopper.
Fortunately, the organ was unharmed and was handed to the hospital, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
A few hours after the incident, the heart was successfully transplanted into a patient, a hospital spokesperson told reporters.
According to KTLA-TV the helicopter’s blades broke during the crash, which hospital staff say they felt from the
Helicopter crash on top of Keck Hospital at USC medical center. 3 people on board: one pilot, and possibly two doctors. May have been transporting a heart for transplant. Unclear what happened on landing. Pilot is OK, status of two others unknown @CBSLA @KCBSKCALDesk pic.twitter.com/eSqtw0IYAw
— Desmond Shaw (@RoadSageLA) November 6, 2020
A doctor said that he felt a “jolt” as the helicopter crashed on top of the multi-story building
59-year-old Javier Chamorro was waiting in front of the building to pick up his child when the chopper came down, he told the LA Times.
Javier said:
“The building shook. I thought it was an earthquake.”
In the aftermath video, the chopper pilot can be seen being carried away from the wreckage.
He was taken to be treated for small injuries and the two other people on board declined medical assistance, according to Fox News.
“The aircraft is stable on its side, on the helipad. There does not appear to be a significant fuel leak,” LAFD said.
#LosAngelesCounty #BoyleHeights
BREAKING:
🚨🚨
A Helicopter (used for an organ donor transport) has crashed on top of Keck Hospital USC in Boyle Heights, California.Atleast one person has suffered injuries. This is a developing story.
Credit: ABC7
https://t.co/rUuhAzhDS2 pic.twitter.com/pU4O5S7wwb— Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) November 7, 2020
The crash is reportedly being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Meg Aldrich of Keck Hospital told the LA Times:
“It’s actually an amazing story.”
