The employers of Kiwi heli-ski guide Lewis Ainsworth who died following a serious helicopter crash in Canada last week have paid tribute to the “rising star”.
Northern Escape Heli-Skiing and Skyline Helicopters released a joint statement on the accident on Monday (local time).
“Lewis was in his second year as a guide with us here at Northern Escape and was clearly a rising star in the industry,” said Northern Escape president John Forrest.
“He was friendly, helpful, passionate and amazingly talented.”
Skyline Helicopters general manager Gareth Shanks said the team was “devastated by the loss.”
“Our dedicated staff at Northern Escape and the pilots at Skyline Helicopters, who tirelessly work with us each season, are integral members of the close-knit Northern Escape and British Columbian heli-ski community,” added Forrest.
Lewis Ainsworth, 35, was on board a helicopter as a heli-ski guide when the aircraft crashed in British Columbia on January 22.
He was the fourth person to die following the crash near the city of Terrace. Three others remained critically injured.
An investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is underway.
The cause of the crash was still unknown.
A celebration of life ceremony was being held for Ainsworth in Vancouver today.
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