Eight feared dead after helicopter crashes into lake in Russia

Staff at Kronotsky nature reserve rescue other eight people onboard minutes after tourist flight came down

A helicopter carrying 16 tourists and crew on a sightseeing trip in the far east of Russia crashed into a lake on Thursday, with eight people including a child feared dead and two others in serious condition, local officials have said.

The Mi-8 helicopter sank after crash-landing at Kuril Lake in the mountainous Kamchatka peninsula in poor visibility. The tourist passengers were from Saint Petersburg.