Gyrocopter And Polk County Sheriff's Helo Made Hard Landings Near Ft. Meade, FL

The Coast Guard rescued two pilots from two separate helicopter accidents near Ft. Meade, Florida, Thursday afternoon.

Rescued are Polk County Deputy Lavon Hughes and a gyrocopter pilot.

An MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew launched from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater to hoist the two pilots out of the field they had gone down in and transported to Tampa General Hospital. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were notified at 3:27p.m., of the accidents and that both pilots were alive but unreachable by vehicle.

According to television station WFTS, the gyrocopter went down first in a marshy area near Ft. Meade, FL. The Sheriff's Office helicopter was above the accident scene also went down. Both were described as "hard landings". The name of the gyrocopter pilot has not been released.

Both pilots were transported to a nearby hospital.

"I'd like to thank the other agencies who came out this afternoon such as Polk Fire Rescue, FWC, Mosaic personnel, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Seminole County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Coast Guard," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "This was an extraordinary situation, and we're happy that both men were not seriously hurt."  

(Source: USCG news release and as cited. USCG image)

FMI: Source report
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