Coast Guard rescues sheriff helicopter that crashed during gyrocopter rescue

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Coast Guard helicopter rescue team was called out after a Polk County Sheriff's Office helicopter went down while trying to help a gyrocopter pilot who had also crashed Thursday afternoon.

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Officials said the PCSO helicopter responded to the scene where the gyrocopter went down on Mosaic property near Manley and County Line roads. The pilot of the gyrocopter was seen standing and waving at the helicopter.

Around 3 p.m., the Sheriff's Office said, the PCSO helicopter also went down.

The pilot of the PCSO helicopter was able to communicate with other deputies on the scene that he was fine, but he said they were both stuck in the pond made up of soft clay, according to investigators.

Officials said a Coast Guard helicopter was able to pull the pilots out of the pond, and both men were transported to a hospital for evaluation.

The Sheriff's Office said the pilot of the PCSO helicopter is Lavon Hughes, 52, who has worked with the Polk County Sheriff's Office since July 2007. Officials said the helicopter he was flying was an OH-58.

The name of the gyrocopter pilot has not been released.

No other details were released.

Cox Media Group