Page:Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Helderberg air disaster.djvu/84

Rh navy vessel and other fishing vessels operating in the region".

On November 29th at 02:56 the wreckage pieces were relocated by the crew of a Transall aeroplane and the ships started with retrieval of bodies and floating wreckage. This was a slow process as floating objects were spread over a large area.

On November 30th at 07:30 it was decided, after anxious deliberation, to terminate the search for survivors and to concentrate on recovery of wreckage pieces. By this time mutilated human remains were retrieved but only 8 bodies were substantial enough for medico-legal post-mortem examinations. The nature of the injuries indicated that the impact forces were far too high for survival.

The following organisations immediately reacted positively to the search and rescue operations:

Mauritius Marine Authority National Coastguard of Mauritius Helicopter Section of Mauritius Police Air Mauritius French Air Force and Naval Base at Reunion United States Navy at Diego Garcia Perth Rescue Co-ordination Centre Australia SARSAT Toulouse

The gratitude of all concerned for the unhesitating response of these authorities has been noted in the Foreword to this Report.