Inquiry launched after helicopter crashes into Great Heck canal

Fire crews found a helicopter had gone into a canal at Great Heck in North Yorkshire, NYFRS said

An investigation has been launched after a pilot was rescued by firefighters when his helicopter crashed into a canal.

It happened shortly after 15:00 BST on Saturday at Great Heck, near Selby.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) said the pilot, a man in his 70s, was able to leave the aircraft and the canal without any assistance.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it was investigating after "an occurrence with a gyroplane".

NYFRS said following the crash the pilot was checked over by Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the scene was made safe.

A service spokesperson said: "Two appliances from Tadcaster were mobilised to the scene and on arrival a gyrocopter was located in the canal.

"The pilot was believed to have been unharmed during the incident."

The NYFRS spokesperson said the Canal and River Trust and the Environment Agency had been notified of the incident at the Aire and Calder Navigation.