Light plane crash in Australia - 6 rescued

Photo / Peter de Graaf

A pilot and five skydivers have been rescued following a light plane crash in southeastern Victoria.

The pilot, a man in his 50s, was trapped for almost two hours after the plane went down about 2.20pm (local time) after taking off from the nearby Tooradin Airfield, an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said.

Emergency crews had to wade in water sometimes up to waist-deep to reach the plane, which was semi-submerged in a creek.

The pilot was treated in the cabin before crews extricated him and he was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with leg fractures.

A male passenger in his 20s was also flown to The Alfred Hospital for pelvic injuries.

The other passengers were taken by police helicopter to the airfield where they were treated for mild hypothermia and skin irritation caused by aviation fuel, the spokesman said.

Two were later taken to Dandenong Hospital and another two were taken to The Alfred Hospital suffering mild hypothermia, shock and skin irritation caused by aviation fuel.

A paramedic was also treated for mild hypothermia.

The Country Fire Authority has set up a decontamination unit at the airfield to treat emergency crews for the effects of aviation fuel.

-AAP