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Chopper cops 'stable'
04/07/2008 20:03 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Three police officers are in a serious, but stable condition in hospital after their helicopter crashed in Meadowlands, Soweto on Friday morning, said Gauteng police.
Captains Carl Bernado and Willie Steyn and Sergeant Paul Steyn were helping the Florida and Roodepoort Dog Units chase two armed robbers around 08:30 when their helicopter hit power cables and crashed, police spokesperson Director Sally de Beer said.
Police received information about the robbers on Friday and began pursuing them on foot before calling in air support to help.
"There was an exchange of gunfire between the suspects and the members on the ground.
"Earlier media reports that the helicopter had been shot down are incorrect," she said.
Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Percy Morokane said all three policemen were airlifted to Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital.
No other person was injured during the incident.
"Power lines in the area of the crash were damaged, indicating that the helicopter had at some stage touched the power lines, but a full investigation will be conducted to establish the cause of the accident," said de Beer.
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