'Sheer luck’: Kiwi survivor of fatal Everest helicopter crash recalls moment of impact

A New Zealand man who survived a fatal helicopter collision near Mt Everest says it was “sheer luck” he escaped with only minor injuries. 

West Auckland man Shailesh Krishna Patel, 53, was returning from Everest Base Camp when his helicopter collided with another helicopter while landing at Pheriche, Nepal, on Tuesday (local time). 

Speaking to the Herald from his Kathmandu hospital bed, Patel said trekking to Everest Base Camp had been a bucket-list goal. 

He had reached Base Camp, about 5364m above sea level, on Monday afternoon with three others guided by Pristine Nepal Treks. 

Patel and another member of the group then boarded a helicopter for the return journey. 

“Unfortunately, I didn’t expect it to end the way it ended.” 

Patel described how quickly the return journey turned to disaster. 

“It just happened in a fraction of seconds,” he said. 

“Hardly two seconds when I realised the other helicopter was so close to us and then even before we could blink our eyes, just, boom!” 

Patel said he and another passenger were seated behind the pilot. 

“We had no chance to hold anything,” he said. 

“The impact I think was more on the side where my friend was sitting and I think he had some really bad head injury.” 

The collision involved helicopters operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty. 

The two helicopters crashed while landing at Pheriche in the eastern Nepal district of Khumbu. 

Both pilots were injured and taken to hospital, where they were reported to be in a stable condition. 

The Indian tourist who died in the collision has been identified by Nepalese media as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu, 47. 

Patel said Balaramudu was a relative of another friend in their trekking group, and the pair had only met during the trip. 

Patel is now recovering at Nepal Mediciti Hospital, where he is being treated for bruising and discomfort in his legs. 

“My right leg [is] a bit stiff, like I’m having a bit of discomfort to lift the leg and on my left leg I have few bruises.” 

A New Zealander is in a stable condition after being among three injured onboard a fatal helicopter collision during landing in Pheriche, Nepal. Photo / Google Maps 

His wife and 16-year-old son remain in New Zealand, and Patel said he had spoken to them since the crash. 

He said his wife had struggled with the initial news, particularly after hearing someone had died and being unable to contact him. 

“They were happy to hear me,” he said of his family. 

Patel said he was grateful to be alive and he hopes to return home soon after he has recovered. 

“Definitely, I was lucky ... my friend was sitting just next to me on my right-hand side and I was really lucky, just sheer luck. 

“I thank God for that, I was lucky with that,” he said.