Snatched NZ flyer left just days ago

By SCOTT INGLIS

A New Zealand helicopter pilot kidnapped by rebels in South America had left his family and newborn grandson in Nelson just last Sunday to continue working abroad.

Dennis Allen Corrin, aged 52, is among at least 10 people kidnapped by Colombian leftist rebels in northern Ecuador, about 250km northeast of the capital Quito, on Thursday night.

The kidnappers are thought to have taken them across the border into Colombia in a stolen helicopter. Their fate last night was unknown and the kidnappers had yet to make any demands.

Mr Corrin was working for US helicopter transport giant Erickson Air Crane, which specialises in heavy lifting using the machines. It is believed the group were moving parts of an oil rig, which can weigh up to 10 tonnes.

The other hostages include Mr Corrin's Ecuadorean co-pilot, three US nationals, two from France, and one from Chile and Argentina.

Ecuador's Acting President, Pedro Pinto, blamed the guerrilla group Farc (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).

He said the group was retaliating against the partly US-funded multibillion-dollar anti-drug effort Plan Colombia, which aims to eradicate that country's coca plantations.

Farc denies this and blames US intelligence agencies.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the attack appeared to be well-planned.

Mr Corrin lives in Nelson's Trafalgar St South with his wife, Marguerite. They have two grown children, Timm and Maree.

Mrs Corrin yesterday refused to talk about her husband, saying she wanted to keep her telephone free in case Foreign Affairs officials rang with news.

But his sister, Yvonne Burns, told the Herald her brother had only just left the country for his shift rotation for Oregon-based Erickson.

His daughter had given birth just days before he left.

Mr Corrin, a helicopter pilot for about 20 years, normally works four weeks on, four weeks off for Erickson, but also flies part-time in New Zealand. He has worked with Erickson for at least six years.

The kidnapping has put enormous stress on the family, particularly Mr Corrin's elderly parents, Stephen and Mary, also in Nelson.

Mr Corrin, Nelson born and bred, was originally a top-dressing pilot but switched to helicopters, working for Helicopters (NZ) Ltd.

The company's Nelson chief pilot, Jim Wilson, described Mr Corrin as a professional. "He's very, very well respected in the industry," he said.

Mr Corrin has worked in all types of helicopter flying - agricultural, logging, and rescue work.

Mr Wilson believed Mr Corrin would not be panicking. "He's a very calm, collected person."

Erickson Air Crane chiefs would not comment yesterday.

But the US Embassy in Quito said it was "deeply worried."

Farc, Latin America's largest rebel group, regularly uses ransom money from kidnappings to finance its escalating war against the state.