Fed; ACT leader helps rescue ditched firefighting pilot

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Fed; ACT leader helps rescue ditched firefighting pilot

ACT Chief Minister JON STANHOPE has helped rescue a helicopter pilot who crashed whilefighting bushfires which blazed across southern New South Wales and northern Victoria.

Mr STANHOPE was in a helicopter when he heard a mayday call about 12.30pm (AEDT) afteranother helicopter pilot ditched into Bendora dam in the ACT.

When Mr STANHOPE arrived a rescue helicopter medical crew had dragged the injured pilotfrom the wreckage but were struggling to bring him out of the water.

Mr STANHOPE and ACT chief fire control officer PETER LUCAS-SMITH helped bring the …