Police credit passing motorists for saving pilot from fiery helicopter crash in London, Ont.

National Post

2 days ago

Police are crediting two motorists with saving the life of a pilot trapped in the fiery wreckage of a crop-dusting helicopter that crashed Friday in a wheat field northeast of London.
The quick-thinking passers-by were travelling along Cobble Hills Road, south of Thorndale Road, about 12:30 p.m. when they spotted the chopper, which had been spraying the field, crash near Thorndale in Thames Centre.
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'There was a lone male pilot, and he was extricated by two good Samaritans while the helicopter was still on fire. They pulled him out,' said OPP Sgt. Ryan Griffith.
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'They saved a life today, no question about it.'
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#MiddlesexOPP reporting a helicopter crash in a wheat field near Cobble Hills Road just south of Thorndale Road, The OPP along with Fire and Paramedics attended the scene. Lone male occupant and operator, 21 year old from Bracebridge taken to local hospital with non-life… pic.twitter.com/24qVAgXZXR
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) August 1, 2025
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The 21-year-old pilot from Bracebridge was flown to Victoria Hospital in London with what police described as non-life-threatening injuries.
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Griffith said the cause of the crash is unknown and is now under investigation.
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The wreckage of the small, blue and green helicopter was still visible late Friday afternoon at the site of the crash, over which police remained in control until members of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which investigates aircraft crashes, could begin an investigation.
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Besides the Ontario Provincial Police, fire departments from Thames Centre and Zorra Township responded to the crash, police said.
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'Thankfully, everybody was okay,' Griffith said.
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But 'things would have been much, much worse, if (those people) hadn't have come to (the pilot's) aid. He was trapped in the helicopter and they were able to free him as the helicopter was on fire,' he said.
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Police asked the public to avoid the area.
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