David Tang, described as both a British lawyer and Hong Kong businessman, was in Norway on Thursday to donate nearly NOK 3 million to the country’s volunteer search and rescue service Redningsselskapet. One of its crews saved Tang’s life following a helicopter crash in Bergen last May.
Tang and another man, Hong Kong media tycoon Charles Chan, were passengers on the helicopter flown by Quentin Smith of the UK. It crashed into the fjord outside Bergen while trying to land on the luxury yacht Bacarella, the ownership of which has not been revealed.
A rescue boat from the Bergen chapter of the emergency service happened to be close by at the time of the crash, witnessed it and immediately sailed to the site. All three men were quickly brought to safety but Tang suffered serious injuries, received first aid at the scene and was rushed to Haukeland Hospital in Bergen, where he was listed in critical condition.
He later recovered and was able to meet with his Norwegian rescuers Simon Ravn, Kristian Lundemo and Magnus Hafslund in June. “Without them I wouldn’t have been here any longer,” Tang told state broadcaster NRK at a trauma conference in Førde on Thursday. “The least we can do is to show our gratitude.” He said the monetary donation to Redningsselkapet of NOK 2.8 million (around USD 360,000) came from all three men on the helicopter and that they hoped it could help buy equipment so that they can “save more lives” in the future.
“We can only say tusen takk (a thousand thanks),” Rikke Lind, secretary general of Redningsselskapet, told NRK. “This is fantastic, and very generous.” Lind said the money would be forwarded to the Bergen chapter.
newsinenglish.no staff
