AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2011
SA:Support pours in for ABC amid chopper fears
ADELAIDE, Aug 19 AAP - The ABC is being overwhelmed by support as it braces for official
confirmation of the deaths of three members of a news team in a helicopter crash in South
Australia.
Pilot Gary Ticehurst, reporter Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean are missing and
presumed dead in the Lake Eyre region.
ABC head of news gathering Don Lange said support was pouring in from around the world.
"We have been overwhelmed by support from both within this organisation and the industry,
and correspondents from across the world who have worked with Paul and Gary and John have
been calling all night and this morning."
The experienced news trio were filming a third documentary of Lake Eyre filling up with water.
"This is the second year in a row the three have gone up to Lake Eyre to do this project,
and they had a lot of fun out there in the bush camping under the stars," Lange said.
"In fact Gary rang only a couple of days ago and said there was just this magical carpet
of stars up in the sky.
"You know they worked incredibly hard on these trips but it was a lot of fun as well."
The ABC said Lockyer was one of its most experienced journalists.
"Paul in particular was one of the most popular reporters in the ABC he had a fantastic
way with people and that was one of his great strengths," Lange said.
"Humility is not a great quality in this industry but Paul had it in bucket loads,
and he was just a marvellous self-effacing individual, I have never heard anyone who had
a bad word to say about him.
"Perhaps Paul and Gary's highlight was in Grantham last year where they were able to
get into the Lockyer Valley a day before the authorities and Paul was able to speak to
people and get their stories in a gentle, understanding way and the public have responded
accordingly."
He said Ticehurst, one of the most experienced media pilots in Australia, loved flying
had covered 29 Sydney to Hobart yacht races, five or six with Lange.
"His flying skill is just unbelievable, you could be flying in a gale backwards tracking
a yacht through the sea 10 or 15 miles offshore."
"He was a classic pilot, years ago he used to have the big walrus moustache and a flock
of silver hair, a very dashing guy."
He said Bean was an award-winning cameraman, a "terrific bloke" who had worked for
all the ABC programs.
Eyewitnesses have described seeing the chopper going down in flames, although it remains
unclear what caused the accident.
Police have confirmed that two people are dead and are searching for the third person
believed to have been in the helicopter.
They are due to hold a press conference in Adelaide at 11.30 (CST).
The weather around Lake Eyre was clear at the time of the crash, with just a few scattered
showers.
William Creek pilot Trevor Wright told Adelaidenow.com.au the occupants of the helicopter
had been due to meet a group on the edge of the lake for dinner.
"When the helicopter didn't turn up, they became anxious and sent out a search party
on foot; they found the wreck," Mr Wright said.
In a career spanning more than 40 years, Lockyer has worked as a correspondent in Washington,
Singapore and throughout Asia and won a Logie Award for best TV reporter.
Bean, who is married to an ABC staff member in Brisbane, has worked for the 7.30 Report,
Catalyst, the New Inventors and Gardening Australia in his 20-year career with the broadcaster.
Ticehurst has close to 40 years of helicopter operational experience, which includes
30 years as chief pilot of Film Helicopters Australia, working with the Australian film
and television industry.
AAP lk/nb
KEYWORD: HELICOPTER 4TH UPDATE
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