Photo: DANIEL SLIM / AFP / Getty Images
AVALON (CNS) - The National Transportation Safety Board continued investigating Friday a deadly helicopter crash offshore of Pebbly Beach on Santa Catalina Island after the body of a woman who was reported missing was found.
The body of 45-year-old Catalina Hernandez, a mother of three and a housekeeper on the island, was recovered around 5:44 p.m. Thursday by divers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Hernandez was identified by family members as the last person aboard the helicopter that was still missing.
Authorities said her body was found amid the wreckage of the helicopter crash.
The helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff around 7:55 p.m. Wednesday near Avalon on Catalina Island, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Four people were pulled from the dark water after the crash -- with two pronounced dead at the scene, fire officials said. Two others were airlifted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Their conditions were not immediately known.
Emergency crews were searching for the fifth person reported who was aboard the helicopter, Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy told reporters Thursday at an early morning news conference. She added that a Coast Guard submersible water craft was joining the search to cover underwater areas.
The Coast Guard deployed a 45-foot response boat-medium and a helicopter crew to conduct the search overnight, which continued throughout the day, according to the agency.
Relatives of Hernandez told NBC4 she was being airlifted to the mainland after suffering an allergic reaction to some shrimp she ate Wednesday night. Her son was among those aboard the helicopter and taken to the hospital with injuries, described as broken bones.
Her sister, Cristina Hernandez, told NBC4 that she and Catalina came to the United States from Mexico together 26 years ago and have lived on the island ever since.
Some broadcast reports indicated that Hernandez may have been strapped to a gurney when the helicopter went into the water, but authorities did not immediately confirm those reports.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said Thursday afternoon that a lifeguard rescue team had located the wreckage of the helicopter under 218 feet of water, but crews were unable to determine if the missing woman was in the craft.
Crecy said Thursday afternoon the various crews on scene had searched more than 130 square nautical miles, and the search would be extended until nightfall Thursday evening.
The two people who died were not immediately identified, but Luna said they were the male pilot of the helicopter and a female nurse. A male medic was other person injured in the crash and taken to UCLA Medical Center, he said.
The Coast Guard announced that it had concluded its search following the location of Hernandez's body.
"We are grateful for the professionalism, coordination and dedication of our Los Angeles County partners, whose efforts have been critical to maintaining a unified and effective response," Crecy said.
"While this is a tragedy felt deeply by the families and community, I am reassured by the speed and determination with which our responders have come together. Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones during this difficult time."
REACH Air Medical Services confirmed that one of its helicopters was the one that crashed.
"Today, the entire REACH family is grieving. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional time for our organization, and our hearts are with everyone affected by this tragedy," according to a statement from the company.
"We can confirm that two of our crew members lost their lives, and one crew member is recovering at a local hospital. Out of respect for the privacy of the other two individuals involved, we won't be sharing additional details at this time.
"Our crews dedicate themselves to helping people on what are often the worst days of their lives. They answer the call at all hours to provide critical care to patients and support for families in moments of crisis. While many questions remain, our commitment to the safety of our crews, patients, and communities remains unwavering.
"Many, understandably, are wondering about who these individuals are, but right now our priority is supporting the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy. Out of respect for their privacy, we won't be releasing names or specific information about the crew until we have permission from their families.
"This loss deeply impacted our employees, clinical teams and support staff across the organization. We have activated a wide range of support resources including our critical incident stress management team and multiple therapy dog teams to ensure our employees and their families have the care they need during this difficult time."
Flight-tracking data showed the Airbus H-135 medical helicopter took off from the Oceanside Fire Department helipad in San Diego County at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday and arrived on the island before going down shortly after taking off for the return trip.
The Coast Guard concluded its response to the crash and the National Transportation Safety Board will carry on the investigation.