A man who died as a result of a helicopter crash two years ago was ''totally fine'' and even ''joked'' with the pilot after the crash, a court has heard.
Murray Sarginson was on trial in the Invercargill District Court yesterday for a crash in 2016 that killed his passenger and business partner, Liam Edwards (32).
Sarginson was flying a Robinson R22 helicopter when it crashed in foggy conditions near the Lindis Pass on April 30, 2016. Mr Edwards died soon afterwards and Sarginson was seriously injured.
During cross-examination, Sarginson said Mr Edwards was ''shuffling on his bum down the hill'' after the crash because Sarginson had been holding on to him.
''He was trying to drag me down the hill so he could go for help,'' Sarginson said.
''Liam was totally fine. He was worried about my health; he thought I was the one that was in trouble.
''I held him back as long as I could and argued with him. We even joked about one or two particular things.
''Now he got up and said 'the fog is coming in thick, no-one will see us', so he decided that he was going to head to the road.''
Civil Aviation Authority lawyer Stephanie Bishop said Sarginson's statement was a ''completely new story''.
''This is yet another attempt by you to change your story to align with the evidence that you've heard in court,'' she said.
''You have changed your story so many times it's hard to follow.''
Sarginson said Ms Bishop's statements were ''really starting to offend'' him.
''This means a lot to me. I know what happened, I know what happened on the day.''
Sarginson is facing four charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act and one charge under the Civil Aviation Act.
He is also charged under the Civil Aviation Act with operating an aircraft in a manner that exposed a passenger to unnecessary danger.
The trial, which is being heard by Judge Bernadette Farnan, continues today.
