Final seven bodies recovered Tragedy GLEN WHIFFEN AND MOIRA BAIRD The Telegram and The Canadian Press

Under an RNC and RCMP escort, hearses leave the Canadian Coast Guard base on Southside Road just before 3 a.m. today, carrying the last seven bodies retrieved from Cougar Helicopters Flight 491. - Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram

The Atlantic Osprey made another sombre call at St. John's harbour under the early morning darkness today, this time bringing home the final seven bodies missing since last Thursday's crash of a Cougar helicopter in the Atlantic Ocean.

All bodies have now been removed from the fuselage of the downed helicopter resting on the ocean floor.

RCMP Sgt. Wayne Newell says the recovery of all the bodies means a measure of relief and closure for family and friends of the victims.

"It's a major accomplishment for the recovery team and very much a relief for the families and everyone involved in the effort to recover the bodies," Newell said. "It is tough on everyone involved, but the repatriation of their loved ones is going to help."

There were two hearses waiting on the dock at the Canadian Coast Guard base in St. John's and a number of police vehicles when the Osprey arrived about 1 a.m. today.

It was similar to the scene early Monday morning, when the Osprey arrived with nine bodies from the wreckage of Flight 491. The ship returned to the crash site a few hours later to continue recovery efforts.

Eighteen people were aboard the Sikorsky S-92A which ditched into the Atlantic Ocean 55 kilometres east of St. John's, minutes after the pilot issued a mayday call. The helicopter was transporting workers to the Hibernia platform and the Sea Rose production ship on the Grand Banks.

The only survivor, Robert Decker, is in the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's in critical, but stable condition. The body of Allison Maher was picked up from the ocean surface shortly after the crash. Her funeral was held Monday in Fermeuse.

Identifying victims

Newell noted identification has been completed on six of the nine bodies returned to St. John's Monday, and next of kin have been notified. He said the RCMP will continue to work with the province's chief medical examiner, Dr. Simon Avis, to make identifications on the remainder of the bodies.

They will also work with the other agencies involved in the recovery efforts to facilitate the return of any personal effects to the families.

The Osprey is expected to be on its way back to the crash site today to commence efforts to lift the fuselage and pieces of wreckage from the ocean bottom - 178 metres below the ocean surface - as part of the Transportation Safety Board's (TSB) investigation into the cause of the crash.

Meanwhile, the RCMP soon expects to interview Decker.

"We've been told that he'll be available later this week for an interview by us," Chief Supt. Reg Reeves said at a Monday news conference.

Decker, 30, continues to improve, but is on a ventilator to help him breathe, according to family friend David Philpott.

"It has been possible to remove the ventilator for extended periods of time," Philpott told the CBC. "However, Robert remains oxygen-dependent, heavily sedated and in critical condition."

Reading from a statement, Philpott said Decker has "significant lung injuries, fractures and will require surgery." He said there is no neurological damage or burns and Decker's vision is fine.

"He has been able to speak briefly with his doctors and family members," Philpott said. "He has been told the magnitude of the tragedy and his first words were of concern for the families of his co-workers."

On Monday, the RCMP officially released the name of another crash victim - helicopter pilot Capt. Matthew Davis, 34, of St. John's. So far, the RCMP has released the names of 15 victims.

Cougar suspended flights by its three remaining Sikorsky S-92As following Thursday's crash.

Hank Williams, operations manager for Cougar Helicopters, says the company has not made a decision on when it might resume flights offshore.

"It's not our focus at all," he said Monday. "When everyone is brought home, when TSB has done their initial work, we'll make a determination at that time."

"Cougar Helicopters has decided we will suspend flying activity until we know more about the incident," said Williams.

Petro-Canada, which operates the Terra Nova oilfield, issued condolences Monday to the families and friends of the crew and passengers aboard Cougar Helicopters Flight 491.

"Ours is a tight-knit community and because of that, this tragedy is touching all of us in very personal and different ways," Alan Brown, the company's vice-president of East Coast operations, said in a statement.

"Many of our staff know or have worked with those who were lost. They, as well as their families and friends, therefore share the deep sense of loss being felt in our community.

"Our thoughts continue to be with the families who are coping with tremendous loss, as well as with the family of the person who was rescued."

Hibernia Management and Development Co. (HMDC) says it has resumed routine production operations, and postponed non-routine maintenance work, HMDC spokeswoman Margot Bruce-O'Connell said in an e-mail Monday.

The Hibernia platform has also resumed regular crew changes, with one crew arriving by ship Saturday morning. Another crew arrived around midnight the following day.

HMDC says a counsellor went to the platform over the weekend.

"As you can imagine, our workers are deeply saddened, but holding up," said Bruce-O'Connell.

mbaird@thetelegram.com gwhiffen@thetelegram.com

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) says it is committed to implementing any lessons learned from the helicopter crash.

But first, the TSB must complete its investigation and issue its findings.

"The CNLOPB has been working very closely with responding agencies since the incident occurred and monitoring search and rescue efforts," the board said in a statement.

"The ditching of Cougar's Flight 491 is an air accident and the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) and the RCMP are the lead agencies in the investigation of this incident."

The CNLOPB regulates safety at all oil and gas facilities off Newfoundland and Labrador.

MOST NAMES RELEASED

The names of 16 of the 18 passengers on Cougar Helicopters Flight 491 released to date are:
Missing:
Matthew Davis, 34, St. John's (Pilot)
John Pelley, 41, Deer Lake
Corey Eddy, 32, Paradise (originally from Sibley's Cove)
Tim Lanouette, 48, Comox, B.C. (First officer)
Thomas Anwyll, 46, Langley, B.C.
Peter Breen, 55, St. John's
Gary Corbett, 46, Conception Bay South
Wade Drake, 42, Fortune
Wade Duggan, 32, Witless Bay
Colin Henley, 38, St. John's
Ken MacRae, 47, Greenwood, N.S.
Derrick Mullowney, 51, Bay Bulls
Burch Nash 44, Fortune
Paul Pike, 49, Shearstown
The names of two other missing people have not been released.
Deceased (body recovered March 12): Allison Maher, 26, Aquaforte
In hospital:
Robert Decker, 30, St. John's
Source: RCMP