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4 months ago
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An Aussie has recounted the miraculous moment he and four others survived a horrific helicopter crash in Bali's South Kuta region on his birthday.
Outside hospital on Saturday, Russell Harris spoke about the moment the Bell Jet Model 5055 Helicopter crashed in cliffs at Pecatu 24 hours earlier.
'Probably three to four minutes into it, we see a kite, a bit too late,' he told 9 News outside a Balinese hospital.
There were five people onboard when the vehicle crashed - Mr Harris, his partner, another friend from Perth, along with two Indonesian locals and the pilot.
The flight was organised for Mr Harris' 46th birthday celebration.
After the kite string tangled around the helicopter's main rotor, it plummeted into a mixed-residential area near the ocean.
All five people on board were treated and three were taken to Siloam Hospital with serious injuries.
'It made us drop 30-50 metres quite quickly,' Mr Harris said.
Russell Harris worked in the mining industry in WA before he recently relocated to Bali, He survived the chopper crash on the island's South Kuta region along with the others on board
The Bell Jet Model 5055 Helicopter crashed in cliffs at Pecatu after the chopper blades became entangle in kite strings
He recounted the moment the vehicle fell from the sky before it ended upside down from the cliff face.
'Trees first... I remember that,' Mr Harris said.
'Then we hit a cliff, flipped us upside down.'
The Indonesian search and rescue agency, Basarnas, reported the helicopter took off from Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) for a tour of the island from 2.33pm local time.
Basarnas reported the helicopter crashed just minutes later at 2.37pm.
Mr Harris said he was thankful the pilot managed to get control after the tangle with the kite, telling Nine News if the crash had occurred from 2-300m in the sky he and the others would not be alive.
'It's very scary obviously, that's my first time in a helicopter,' he said.
'It was my birthday today, that's what it was for.'
Mr Harris and his partner were both on board and after taking the trip for his birthday
Mr Harris said he remembered hitting trees and a cliff, before the helicopter ended upside down. No-one was killed and three people, including Mr Harris, were taken to hospital
Local safety authorities are looking into the crash which happened during a Balinese festival where kites are traditionally flown (pictured: the kite string around the rotor)
In a statement, Indonesia's transport ministry said: 'The Directorate General of Civil Aviation Ditjen Hubud has received a report on the accident of the PK-WSP type Bell 505 helicopter belonging to PT. Whitesky Aviation.'
'Initial information is that all passengers are confirmed to have survived the accident.
'Currently, aviation inspectors from the Region IV Airport Authority Office are heading to the crash site. PT. Whitesky Aviation has also sent an investigation team to the scene.
'The Ministry of Transportation, through the Directorate General of Communications, will carry out more intensive outreach and monitoring of the dangers of kites.'
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