Two dead after Taiwan rescue helicopter crash

Two people have died and another is in a critical condition after a rescue helicopter with five people on board lost control and plunged into waters off New Taipei City in northern Taiwan on Friday afternoon.

A coastguard on board was declared dead in hospital. The pilot regained signs of life after treatment, but was later declared dead.

The co-pilot of the helicopter is in a critical condition due to lung inflammation after inhaling too much water, while the remaining two only have minor injuries.

The helicopter was exploring an oil spill from a vessel that became stranded at about 9 a.m. Thursday.

A video clip showed the helicopter hovering 20 meters above the water, but it suddenly starts to spin before dropping into the sea.

Coastguard and fire teams discovered all five on board -- the pilot, the co-pilot, two coast guards and a crew chief.

Owned by a Taipei-based company, the stranded vessel from north Taiwan's Keelung is 10 years old and carrying 617 containers and 447 tonnes of fuel.

All 21 of the ship's crew had been saved by 1 p.m. on Thursday.