two survive sea helicopter crash

TWO men are in hospital after escaping a helicopter crash off the coast of the north Queensland city of Mackay earlier this afternoon.

The Bell 206 helicopter after an engine failure, a spokeswoman from the Australian Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre (AusSAR) said.
The two people aboard the chopper were able to eject from the aircraft before it hit the water and were spotted by a rescue helicopter floating in a life raft about 100KM northeast of Mackay.
The gender and age of the two people is yet to be confirmed, however it is believed the passenger on the helicopter is a marine coastal pilot who works guiding freight ships through the Great Barrier Reef.