ONE man died and another was seriously injured last night after a helicopter crashed in the Highlands.
Rescuers said a man was killed when a small civilian helicopter crashed into a hillside at Ardsheal, near Kentallan, south-west of Ballachulish, Lochaber.
The injured man was believed to have been taken to Belford Hospital, Fort William.
One of the rescuers said last night: ''For somebody to survive that is good news, but it verges on the miraculous.''
Northern Constabulary said two casualties were found near the wreckage. It is believed there were only two people on board and a search failed to trace anyone else.
Rescue helicopters from HMS Gannet at Prestwick and RAF Lossiemouth, and members of a local mountain rescue team attended the crash which occurred at about 9pm.
Police, fire brigade, and ambulance personnel, were also scrambled.
Michael Mulford, spoke-sman for the RAF Rescue and Co-ordination Centre in Kinloss, said last night: ''There is a major search with great urgency to establish how many were on board and what their fate was. One always hopes for the best in these situations, but you have to be realistic enough to think that when a helicopter crashes into a hillside, it's not always non-survivable.''
He said local residents reported a helicopter flying over the eastern side of Loch Linnhe, before a huge bang was heard and a ''ball of flames'' was seen on the hillside.
The Civil Aviation Authority is expected to launch an investigation into the crash.
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