‘At least 5 lacking’ as helicopter crashes in Portugal

A firefighting helicopter with at least six people on board has crashed into a river in northern Portugal.

The pilot of the chopper is said to have been rescued by a tourist boat.

But at least five police on board the helicopter, said to be underwater in the Douro River, are still believed to be missing following the crash in Cambres near the city of Lamego.

Local reports say the police are members of an emergency protection and help unit of the GPR police force called the UEPS.

The alarm was raised around 12.30pm this afternoon, and a vast search and rescue operation was launched in the area.

GNR chief Mafalda Gomes de Almeida has confirmed the only person rescued so far is the helicopter pilot, who was taken to a nearby hospital.

He sustained some fractures and is suffering from hypothermia after the crash, local media reports, but is not in a life threatening condition.