The Australian flag flew at half mast at Mudgee Fire Station on the weekend in tribute to a young Mudgee firefighter killed in a helicopter crash in Cessnock on Friday.
Alongside the flag, fellow firefighters posted the words “We miss you brother” on the station sign.
The 21-year-old man was one of two people killed when the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed to the ground at about 11.45am on Friday.
With investigations into the crash continuing, police had not officially released the Mudgee man’s name at publication time yesterday.
However, as news spread through the town on Friday afternoon, dozens of messages were posted on his Facebook page, where friends, family and colleagues paid tribute to an “exceptional friend” and “inspiration”, “flying high in life and chasing your dreams”.
Cricketers at all Mudgee matches on Saturday wore black armbands in honour of a popular local sportsman and friend, who was also a popular Mudgee Wombats player.
The young man had worked for CRT Real Estate before joining Fire and Rescue NSW and was also a licensed pilot.
He was a passenger in the helicopter, which was reported to be undertaking a training and certification exercise.
Witnesses told of hearing “an unusual sound” moments before the helicopter crashed and burst into flames at the end of the runway.
Several men working in nearby hangars rushed to scene with fire extinguishers but could do little to help.
The 42-year-old pilot was able to scramble from the wreckage with his clothes on fire.
He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and later flown to John Hunter Hospital with burns to his arms, where he was listed on Friday night as being in a stable condition.
The helicopter was owned by Hunter Wine Helicopters.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will be in charge of the accident investigation and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
