'Miracle' helicopter passenger survived crash

Rescuers say it is a miracle a man survived a helicopter crash in Canterbury on Wednesday.

The crash, in which pilot Adrian James Mayberry was killed, happened on Wednesday in the Lake Coleridge area, about 100km west of Christchurch.

It was a miracle the 45-year-old passenger survived after the helicopter plunged up to 60 metres into a valley, St John intensive-care paramedic Tony Ward told The Press.

The survivor, who has not been named but is related to Mr Mayberry, 59, suffered a major laceration to his scalp, along with chest and spinal injuries.

Mr Ward said that he was "hypothermic" when found in close to freezing conditions and his warm, heavy hunting gear probably saved his life. He could have lain there for hours.

Mr Ward said the privately owned Robinson R-22's main rotor had disintegrated, the tail boom had separated from the cockpit, and part of the under-carriage had fallen away.

The helicopter had earlier dropped off a party of hunters and had been expected back to pick them up again but never returned.

Police and the Civil Aviation Authority are investigating the crash.

- NZPA