Pilot recovering at AGH

The pilot involved in the crash of a plane in Milne Bay has a fractured jaw and is now recovering at the Alotau General Hospital (AGH), AGH chief executive officer Billy Naidi said yesterday.
“Gerard Conron, an Australian, is now awaiting a dental surgeon to his jaw. But generally, his condition has improved and he is now walking about.” Mr Naidi said.
Mr Conron was the pilot of the Cessna that crashed about 180km from Alotau at Agaun airstrip last Wednesday at 8.30am when his plane was believed to have been lifted by strong winds to smash into the valley.
The plane, owned by the North Coast Aviation, was chartered by a business in Alotau to airfreight trade store goods to Agaun in the Rabaraba area.
“It was just lucky that a helicopter was just nearby airlifting relief supplies from Rabaraba station to the flood affected areas within the area when it was diverted to Agaun to pick up Conron,” he said.
“The quick response of the medical staff to attend to him on the helicopter while on the way to Alotau and further attention to him at the hospital had saved him from further complications.” he said.