The 16-year-old boy critically injured in Thursday’s helicopter crash near the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center was pronounced dead Monday, Pali Momi Medical Center said in a news release.
Two family members — a 50-year-old man and 45-year-old woman — remained in stable condition at Pali Momi, the hospital said. Another family member was treated at an area hospital and released Thursday.
A hospital spokeswoman said the announcement was made “with a heavy heart.”
“So that the 16-year-old’s memory lives on, the family has chosen to donate his organs to patients in need,” the hospital spokeswoman said.
No additional information regarding the family’s medical condition would be released at the time, the news release added.
In a statement later Monday, Jeff Gebhard of Kailua, owner of tour company Genesis Helicopters, said, “We continue to be at a loss for words as no words can express the absolute heartache and sorrow we’re feeling at the passing of their son. As a parent, I can only imagine the indescribable loss they’re experiencing right now. We are beyond devastated. We can only express that our constant thoughts and the deepest of our condolences are with his family and all of those that have been affected by this tragedy.”
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said Monday evening that “we don’t have any information quite yet” on the identity of the boy and added that usually it waits for next of kin to be notified before a name is released.
Five people, a family of four from Canada and the pilot, were injured when the Bell 206B JetRanger heli- copter crashed at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday in about 10 feet of water.
Rescuers said they had to cut the harness strapping the boy into the helicopter before they could free him from the submerged helicopter. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
On Friday hospital spokeswoman Kristen Bonilla said the teen was 15, but she corrected herself Monday.
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The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
