David Wood remembered in Yukon as an 'extremely good pilot'
'As a pilot, he was known probably throughout the world,' says friend Stan McNevin
A Canadian helicopter pilot who died recently following an accident in Antarctica worked summers for Whitehorse-based Fireweed Helicopters.
David Wood had 30 years of experience as a pilot in the Arctic and Antarctica.
"He was an exceptionally pleasant man and an extremely good pilot," said Stan McNevin, a friend and owner of the Eagle Plains Hotel. "As a pilot, he was known, probably, throughout the world.
"He was somebody you'd love to have over for dinner and a few beers."
Wood, 62, was piloting one of two helicopters delivering fuel to a depot about 160 kilometres northeast of Australia's Davis research station, according to a release from Australia's Department of the Environment's Australian Antarctic division.
After sling-dropping the fuel drums, the two pilots landed to retrieve the equipment. Wood got out of his helicopter and fell into a crevasse.
The second pilot contacted the Davis station by radio and flew back to get help, the Australian government said.
Three search and rescue officers got to the site about three hours after Wood's fall and retrieved him from a depth of about 20 metres.
Wood was flown by helicopter to the medical facility at Davis station, and was in critical condition. He received care from both specialists at the station and via telemedicine from Australia but died, the release said.