UPDATED: 5:37pm

The ABC has named the pilot of a R22 helicopter that was ditched into the sea near Noah Beach in the Daintree National Park about 7:45 on Thursday night as Brad Maisel and his passenger as Danny Gray.

According to the report, 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.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), who are co-ordinating the rescue operation, would not confirm the names of the pilot and passenger. AMSA spokesperson Sam Cardwell said the names would only be released if the respective families’ consented.  

Although Mr Gray survived the crash, local police, State Emergency Services, navy divers, four boats and two Rescue 510 helicopters are continuing their search for Mr Maisel, and will do so until lasting light. 

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 Cairns Hospital and was discharged today,

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), meanwhile, confirmed late afternoon that a seat cushion had been found in the vicinity of where the chopper had come down. 

Mr Cardwell would not confirm the seat was from the downed chopper, but said it was similar to what can be found in R22 helicopters.

The campers, meanwhile, Jane and Dominic Mazzagatti, who were on the beach, told the ABC they heard the crash before they were found by the injured passenger looking for help.

“We were just sitting outside and heard a very big engine sound followed by a very loud crash impact,” Ms Mazzagatti said.

“About 15 to 20 minutes later a man came out of the bush asking for help.

“He said he was in the helicopter when it went down and that his friend is still out there stuck in it.”

Mr Mazzagatti drove with him to get mobile service so he could report the accident and try to get help.

“He knew what was going on; he was in a panic and worried about his friend. All he wanted to do was get help.”

Mr Mazzagatti said the man had gashes in his right thigh and was “as white as ghost”. “He was holding his left arm. He was more bruised than bloody,” Mr Mazzagatti said.

Newsport will continue to update the situation.

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UPDATED: 12:34pm

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), who are co-ordinating the search for a 50-year-old man who ditched his helicopter into the sea near Noah Beach in the Daintree National Park about 7:45pm on Thursday, said in their latest update at 12:30pm, that despite favourable weather conditions, they had yet to locate the individual or the helicopter.

Sam Cardwell, a spokesperson for AMSA, told Newsport that four boats and two helicopters are being deployed in the rescue operation and at 2:30pm, naval divers will join the search.

“Fortunately weather conditions are good. There is low cloud, but this is not hampering the operation.

“Some debris has been found, but we are not 100 per cent sure it’s from the helicopter,” he said.

Cardwell said it is not policy “at this time” to release the name of the 43-year-old passenger who managed to escape the wreckage. 

Despite a fractured leg, the man swam 800m to the shore where he came across four campers who alerted authorities. He was admitted to Cairns Hospital and was later discharged. 

The cause of the accident is unknown at this stage.  

“All we know, according to the surviving passenger, is that there was a sudden loss of power. But we do not know what caused this to occur,” said Cardwell.

Water police, five commercial vessels, and a helicopter searched the area overnight but failed to locate any sign of the Robinson R22 helicopter or pilot and the search was called off at 3:30am due to poor conditions.

Cardwell advised that he is expecting a diver’s update at approximately 3:30pm. 

Newsport will continue to monitor the situation.