A mother who went missing after a medical helicopter crash has been found dead, bringing the death toll from the tragic incident to three.
The helicopter was carrying five people when it crashed shortly after taking off. Two survivors were pulled from the water and rushed to a hospital for treatment, while the pilot and a nurse were pronounced dead after the crash. The fifth person, a female patient, remained missing as rescue crews began searching the area.
After an extensive search lasting more than 23 hours, divers located the missing woman inside the helicopter wreckage. Her body was recovered from the submerged aircraft, confirming that she had also died in the crash.
The woman was identified by her family as 45-year-old Catalina Hernandez, a mother of three. She had been receiving medical treatment after suffering a serious allergic reaction and was being transported for additional care when the helicopter went down. Her 20-year-old son was also aboard and survived, although he suffered serious injuries, including broken bones.
The crash left three people dead and two injured, with authorities continuing to investigate what caused the medical helicopter to go down so suddenly. The tragedy occurred near Catalina Island in Southern California, close to the community of Avalon.