Leicester helicopter inquest: Police heard pilot shouting for help

Leicester: Back in 2018, a tragic helicopter crash at the King Power Stadium took five lives, including the club’s chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Recently, two police officers shared their harrowing experience during the inquest. They were among the first responders and recalled hearing the pilot, Eric Swaffer, shouting for help from inside the wreckage.

Sgt. Michael Hooper and PC Stephen Quartermain arrived just a minute after the crash. They described the scene as chaotic and intense. Sgt. Hooper tried to break the helicopter’s windscreen with his baton but couldn’t get it to budge. He then rushed to grab a fire extinguisher, hoping to buy some time for the pilot.

The heat was unbearable, and PC Quartermain got emotional recalling how flames were creeping toward the back of the helicopter. He remembered seeing Swaffer regain consciousness and plead for help. The inquest also showed body-worn footage of the officers as they tried to assist.

Eyewitnesses described the helicopter’s takeoff as routine, but things quickly went wrong. One witness, John Ledwidge, saw the helicopter spinning and shouted for his team to take cover. He felt guilty for not being able to do more as flames erupted from the rear.

An investigation later revealed that mechanical failures led to the crash, and the pilot had little chance of saving everyone on board. The inquest is set to continue for a few more weeks, as the jury seeks to understand the full circumstances of this tragic event.