A pilot helping to fight a Marion County wildfire is in stable condition after a helicopter crash.
Sgt. John Rawls, who was flying Marion County Sheriff's Office Air 1, was helping the Florida Forest Service to fight a fire near Highway 315 and Northeast 212th Road in Fort McCoy.
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MCSO said the pilot was performing his last bucket fill when the helicopter lost power and went down into the lake.
Rawls was able to eject himself from the helicopter, swim to shore and call for help, MCSO said. Rawls is in stable condition after being transferred to a local hospital.
“Our pilot is OK and, though he does have some injuries, he should be fine,” said Sheriff Billy Woods. “The Marion County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service did an outstanding job in helping us get to our pilot out there in order to get him to the hospital, and I want to thank each of them for the services that they provided to us. We are extremely grateful to everyone who worked tirelessly to make sure Sgt. Rawls got the emergency care he needed.”