Minister in Madagascar swims for 12 hours to safety after his helicopter crashed

A government minister in Madagascar said he swam for 12 hours to safety after his helicopter crashed at sea during a rescue mission. Exhausted Police Minister Serge Gelle said as he recovered on a stretcher that it was not his time to die. Two other security officials travelling with him in the helicopter also survived the crash.

The team had been scouting an area in the north-eastern part of the country where a passenger boat had sunk, where at least 39 people died in the accident. On Twitter President Andry Rajoelina mourned those who died and also paid tribute to Gelle and the other two officers, who arrived in the seaside town of Mahambo separately.