Passenger of crashed Queensland helicopter swam 800m for help

A passenger of a helicopter that crashed off the coast of Queensland swam almost one kilometre to shore to phone for help after the chopper’s pilot failed to surface.

The man from Port Douglas made his way to the Noah Beach camping area off Cape Tribulation as darkness set in around 7.45pm last night.

The man borrowed a holidaymaker’s phone to alert emergency services, according to police.

He has since been taken to hospital for injuries to his abdomen and chest.

Water Police, five commercial vessels and a helicopter searched the area overnight but failed to locate any sign of the helicopter or the 50-year-old male pilot.

The search is expected to resume this morning, with helicopter and police patrols to again search the crash site with officers also scouring the shoreline in 4WDs and on foot.