Two award-winning filmmakers working on a documentary
with renowned Hollywood director James Cameron were killed in
a helicopter crash in Australia on Saturday, according to
National Geographic.
American cinematographer Michael deGruy, 60, and Australian
TV writer-producer Andrew Wight, 52, were killed when their
helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from an airstrip
south of Sydney, the media group said on its website.
Police did not release the victims' identities immediately.
However, National Geographic and Oscar-winning director
Cameron confirmed their deaths in a statement released on
Sunday.
" ... the deep-sea community lost two of its finest," the
statement said.
DeGruy and Wight were long-time colleagues of Cameron. Wight
co-produced the feature film "Sanctum 3D" with Cameron after
accompanying him on six deep-ocean documentary expeditions.
DeGruy, an Emmy award winner with 30 years' experience in
ocean filmmaking, was director of undersea photography for
Cameron's "Last Mysteries of the Titanic".
"Mike and Andrew were like family to me," Cameron said in the
statement.
"Their deaths are a tremendous loss for the world of
underwater exploration, conservation, and filmmaking," he
said.
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