The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has confirmed that the search for missing helicopter pilot Brad Maisel has been suspended and Queensland Police and Navy divers had returned to the search area at first light this morning in an attempt to locate the wreckage of the helicopter. 

The search for the pilot, near Cape Tribulation in Queensland, was suspended last night after an extensive search and following specialist medical survivability advice. 

A passenger of the helicopter, Danny Gray, managed to escape the wreckage and swam to shore where nearby campers assisted him in calling for help. The passenger reported that the helicopter had crashed into the ocean offshore of Noah Beach in the Cape Tribulation National Park. 

The 50-year-old local cane farmer and father-of-three was returning with Mr Gray from a fishing trip on the reef when the chopper went down. Despite a fractured leg, Mr Gray managed to swim 800m from the crash site to shore where he was assisted by four campers. After alerting authorities and assisting Mr Gray, he was taken to Mossman Hospital and was later discharged.

AMSA had been coordinating the search after the helicopter crashed into the ocean south of Cape Tribulation shortly before 8.00 on Thursday night. 

A search and rescue operation was initiated by Queensland Police with a number of surface assets. AMSA provided a rescue helicopter with night vision capabilities to conduct an aerial search overnight. Coordination for the search and rescue was transferred to AMSA on Friday morning, AMSA said in a statement. 

AMSA tasked two helicopters, Rescue 510 a Queensland EMS helicopter from Cairns, and a private helicopter from the nearby area to conduct an aerial search of the reported crash site. Two commercial vessels, a Cairns Water Police vessel and the Port Douglas Volunteer Marine Rescue vessel were involved in a surface search. 

A team of Royal Australian Navy divers were unable to conduct an underwater search due to adverse sea conditions. 

About 3.00pm yesterday a police ground party discovered items washed up on the nearby beach including a seat cushion consistent with a cushion from the missing helicopter. 

Following expert medical advice indicating that the chance of survival expired at last light last night, the search and rescue operation was suspended. 

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will also conduct an investigation into the crash.