MULTI-MILLIONAIRE horse owner Dai Walters is ‘on the road to recovery’ after his horrific helicopter crash.
Trainer Sam Thomas, one of five injured when the chopper was downed in dense woodland in Wales last week, gave an update on the 77-year-old construction titan’s health on Thursday.
Thomas, 38, said: “Dai is OK, it will be a long road back, but he will be OK. He is well on the road to recovery.
“I’m fine – just keeping the show on the road. That is all we can all do. Just keep the horses in top form and keep kicking.”
Walters’ daughter Sarah Llewellyn said last weekend he had been moved to intensive care at Glan Clwyd hospital near Rhyl.
But Thomas’ words offer strong hope the plant machinery tycoon worth £264million is firmly on the mend.
The helicopter is believed to have come down just moments after taking off near Llanelidan, Denbighshire.
Thomas was reported to have rescued Walters from the wreckage before an ex-Forces passerby gave him CPR.
One horrified witness said the sight of the helicopter hurtling through the air was ‘like a movie’.
Thomas sustained minor injuries and was allowed to return to his Cardiff base after being discharged from hospital.
Witness Huw Howatson said: “It was horrible, I watched it happen and I was filming the helicopter.
“I could see it was in trouble and it hit some trees and I had to get out the way.
A piece of propeller came away. We had to scarper because there was lots of debris, it was just flying everywhere – it was like a movie.”
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed a probe into the incident had been launched.
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called shortly before 5.30pm last night, Tuesday 1 November, to reports of a helicopter crash in woodland near Llanelidan, Ruthin.
“We sent a paramedic in a rapid response car and three emergency ambulances to the scene, where crews were also supported by Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service colleagues and a duty operations manager.
“Two patients were taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital.”
