A Rescue Helicopter

Although it had been less than a half hour before help would arrive, to the passengers stuck in the river, it felt like an eternity. Finally, they would hear the swooshing of the wings of a United States Parks Service helicopter. At least now, people felt like there was a fighting chance.

Throwing Down A Rope

The helicopter pilot, Donald W. Usher, was with paramedic Gene Windsor on the helicopter. Almost immediately upon arrival, they would reach Bert Hamilton, a man who happened to be only 10 feet away from the remaining piece of the tail of the plane. The first thing they did was throw down a rope with a life vest and floatation ball to the waiting passenger praying he could hold on.