The BC Coroners Service have confirmed the identities of three males who were aboard a helicopter that crashed near Terrace on June 1, 2012.

The three are: Peter Bryant, aged 44, of Terrace; Blake Erickson, aged 48, of Sicamous; and Arnaud Jolibois, aged 44, of Banff, Alberta.

The three were aboard an A-Star 350 helicopter belonging to Bailey Helicopters when it went down above the tree line on Sleeping Beauty Mountain a short distance west of Terrace at about 9 a.m. on June 1. All three were found to have died in the crash when Search-and-Rescue technicians reached the site later in the day.

The three were removed from the crash scene and flown to Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace on the afternoon of June 2.

The crash is being investigated by the Transportation Safety Board, the RCMP and the BC Coroners Service.

The families of the three deceased have been notified of their deaths. On behalf of the families, the BC Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.

The BC Coroners Service expresses its sympathy for the families, friends and colleagues of the three and their appreciation for the assistance of the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron from CFB Comox, the Terrace Fire Service, Terrace Search and Rescue, the RCMP, White River Helicopters, Lakelse Air, and the avalanche technicians involved in the search and recovery efforts.

For further information, please contact:

Donita Kuzma
Regional Coroner, Northern Region
BC Coroners Service
250 565-6040