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Slim hope for survival of 1 missing in copter crash

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-14 19:27

SHANGHAI - Chinese rescuers Tuesday continued searching for the missing mechanic aboard a helicopter that crashed on the sea off Shanghai Sunday, but they said the chance of survival for Yang Yongchang is slim.

"Survival chances of people in water are largely dependant on the water temperature and its flow speed," said Zhou Zhengbao, a media staff with the Shanghai maritime affairs bureau.

Related readings:  Helicopter salvaged, machinist missing  1 missing, 3 rescued after copter crashes  Copter crashes into Yangtze River, one missing

Water temperature at the area where the helicopter serving China's Antarctic exploration ship, Xuelong, crashed was 15 degrees Celsius from Sunday to Tuesday. In that circumstance, human beings could only survive six hours in water, Zhou said.

But he didn't rule out the possibility of "a miracle".

Rescuers are still searching for Yang, expanding their searching scope. They broadcasted to other passing vessels to report timely if they had any information of the missing.

The plane crashed in the East China Sea off Shanghai at about 11:20 a.m Sunday, two days after Xuelong returned to the city from its Antarctic mission.

Four crew members, all men, were aboard. Three of them were rescued, including the pilot, the co-pilot and a mechanic. The wreckage of the helicopter was lifted out of water at 10:55 p.m. Sunday.