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Byron Shire
June 22, 2026

Lucky escape in ultralight crash

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Ultralight plane crash at Broadwater, April 30, 2014. Photo courtesy Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter
Ultralight plane crash at Broadwater, April 30, 2014. Photo courtesy Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter

As this dramatic photograph shows, an ultralight pilot was lucky to survive a dramatic crash landing on Broadwater beach, south of Ballina, yesterday.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was tasked to the beach around 10.30 yesterday after reports of the accident started to surface.

On arrival, the chopper doctor discovered that despite the plane’s landing upside down on the deserted beach, the pilot had suffered only minor cuts and bruises.

The helicopter was re-tasked to perform an urgent hospital transfer from the Ballina Hospital to the Gold Coast Hospital, leaving the pilot to organise salvage of his plane.

But crew were able to snap this impressive aerial photo of the downed plane as they were leaving the scene.

 

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