Award-winning photographer suffered 'significant injuries' in chopper crash
Sunday, 13 June 2021
An award-winning photographer seriously injured in a helicopter crash while travelling with a bridal party has a fear of flying but does it for the love of her job, her husband says.
Rachel Jordan and the newly married couple were heading off to take photos when the chopper they were in crashed down on one of the fairways at the Terrace Downs Golf Resort in rural Canterbury at 3.05pm on Saturday.
Three people, including the photographer Rachel Jordan, were taken to Christchurch Hospital by helicopter. The fourth person suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance.
Jordan has spinal fractures, five fractured ribs, lung laceration, fractured sternum, a broken arm and fractured feet.
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Her husband, Eric Jordan, received a phone call from a man at the scene of the crash moments after the crash.
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“My wife has a fear of flying – when I heard the tone of [his] voice I knew something was terribly wrong, and I instantly knew that she was likely very scared about what was happening,” he said.
Jordan has spoken to her twice via video stream since the crash.
“She’s in a lot of pain and is on a lot of painkillers so she wasn’t able to communicate very well. But, she’s alive and that’s all I can ask for at this moment.”
The couple moved to New Zealand in about 2015 from the United States and have a 10-year-old son, Evan.
The couple set up a wedding photography business not long after arriving in New Zealand, with Rachel Jordan flying all over the country to photograph weddings.
Eric Jordan said she did not let her fear of flying stop her from getting in helicopters.
“She does it for the love of what she does and to capture the best memories for her bride and groom. She lives for it.”
He was thankful for the first responders at the scene as well as all the support the family had received from friends and those in the wedding industry.
“They’ve all rushed in to help and set up funds to help us out which has been pretty amazing.”
A Givealittle page set up on Sunday said Jordan had significant injuries and faced a long recovery period.
“Rach has been able to move her legs but is having trouble with her feet and cannot move them, but that could change as swelling around her spinal cord goes down.”
Jordan has won several New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography Iris Awards for her work.
In a media statement, the company that owns the helicopter, Wyndon Aviation, said they were “unaware of any causal factors in respect of this accident”.
“We have, however, undertaken to work closely with the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and authorities who are investigating the circumstances behind yesterday's accident.'
CAA investigators were back at the scene on Sunday examining the wreckage, a spokesman said.
The crash was witnessed by golfers on the course, according to Ronnie Ronalde, group operations manager for CPG Hotel Group, which runs the property for the owner.
It is understood there were eight golfers near the helicopter when it crashed. A surgeon, who was in the clubhouse at the time of the crash, arrived at the scene shortly after.
“They were there straight away, and they called the clubhouse, and we went straight up and tried to help them until the ambulance and police arrived,” Ronalde said.