Foreigner killed in gyrocopter accident in Cebu town

CEBU CITY—A 65-year-old foreign national was killed when a gyrocopter he was piloting crashed at a village in the town of Argao, Cebu province past 5 p.m. on Thursday (Nov. 5).

Cowley Ferrish, whose nationality was still being confirmed by rescuers, was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival there.

Cpl. Apolinar Alivso, of the Argao police, said investigators were looking into the possibility that the gyrocopter hit coconut trees in the area that caused it to crash.

A gyrocopter is an aircraft that achieves lift by means of a free spinning rotor.

Kent Rizon, chief of the Argao Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said some tourists rent gyrocopters to see the beauty of Cebu from above.

Initial investigation cited witnesses as saying Ferrish was alone when the accident took place.

Rizon said authorities were still trying to reach out to the immediate family of Ferrish.

TSB