Malaysian executive killed by helicopter blades

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA Mar 31 2006 08:06

A Malaysian corporate executive was killed instantly when his head was struck by a helicopter's whirling rotor blades in the northern Penang state, reports said on Friday.

Joseph Chan Sum Foo (45) general manager of a construction company, was struck on Thursday after he helped five school children onto the helicopter, which was used in an event to promote his company's latest property development site.

Chan was hurrying away from the helicopter after shutting the door of the AS365 Nuri Dauphin chopper, when the spinning rotor blades hit the back of his head.

"Suddenly, I heard a thud behind me. I turned around and saw Chan slumped on the ground. There was blood on my trousers," one witness told the Star daily.

A local reporter, who was present to cover the event, said that people at the scene tried to rush to Chan's aid but could only stand a distance away as the helicopter's rotor blades were still spinning.

Penang state police chief Christopher Wan said that authorities have launched investigations into the incident, adding that negligence had not been ruled out.

"From my experience, only when the rotor blades have stopped would passengers be allowed to alight or board," he said. "No one should be allowed to walk away from the helicopter until the blades are completely stationary."

Chan is survived by a wife and 10-year-old daughter. - Sapa-DPA