Authorities said a Madagascar minister was one of two survivors of a helicopter crash off Madagascar’s northeastern coast. However, he swam for nearly 12 hours to shore. After the crash on Monday, police and port authorities told they were still looking for two other passengers. The reason for the crash certainly was not immediately determined.
According to Madagascar port authority chief Jean-Edmond Randrianantenaina, both Serge Gelle, the country’s state secretary for police, and a fellow policeman ejected from the plane and landed individually in the seaside town of Mahambo on Tuesday morning. In a social media video, the 57-year-old Gelle can be seen dressed in his camouflage outfit. Drained sitting on a deck chair. “My time to die hasn’t come yet,” says the general. Adding he is cold but not injured. “I will be able to return to work within 24 hours,” he added.
I will be able to return to work within 24 hours
Gelle became a minister in August. As part of a cabinet reshuffle carried out under president Andry Rajoelina. Rajoelina won Madagascar’s presidential elections in 2018. President Rajoelina praised Gelle for his “dedication” in a tweet on Tuesday. Adding that Madagascar’s fully mobilised to deliver any necessary relief to the victims of the helicopter crash and an earlier shipwreck. The death toll in Madagascar however now stands at 39. The boat had 130 passengers on board. 45 were saved.