South African granny survives birthday helicopter crash

JOHANNESBURG—A South African granny walked away from a helicopter crash with only scratches and bruises, after she was given a ride as an 80th birthday gift that turned wrong, the Beeld newspaper reported Wednesday.

The helicopter fell from the sky shortly after taking off Tuesday morning from Wonderboom airport in the South African capital Pretoria, but the cause of the crash remained unknown, the paper said.

Sanna van der Walt, known fondly as “tannie” or aunt, was taken to hospital as a precaution, the paper added. No one was seriously injured.

“The pilot jumped out to close the fuel cap… we then cut the safety belt of the ‘tannie’ with a knife, and got her out,” co-pilot Andre Potgieter told the Beeld.