'Sanctum' filmmaker and cinematographer die in helicopter crash

Screenwriter and producter Andrew Wight alongside cinematographer Mike deGruy have been killed in a helicopter crash in Australia. They had made 'Sanctum' together.

Wight, 51, was travelling with BAFTA winner deGruy, 60, across New South Wales to scout locations for a new project when the helicopter they were in ditched.

The aircraft, a seven-year-old Robinson R44 four-seater, is believed to have crashed on take-off, killing both men. Wight was the pilot.

Filmmaker James Cameron, who worked with the duo on his 'Ghosts of the Abyss' documentary, stated: "Mike and Andrew were like family to me. They were my deep-sea brothers, and both were true explorers, who did extraordinary things and went places no human being has been."

The 'Avatar' director went on to say: "It is cruelly ironic that he died flying a helicopter, which was second nature to him, like driving a car would be to most people."

Cameron said the pair had died "doing exactly what they loved most, heading out to sea on a new and personally challenging expedition, having fun in the way they defined it for themselves, which was hardship and toil to achieve something never done before".

Cameron concluded that their deaths were "a tremendous loss for the world of underwater exploration, conservation, and filmmaking".

Wight was a partner with Cameron's production company Cameron Place, which was planning to bring 3D filmmaking to the forefront of Australian cinema. The future of the office is now uncertain.

deGruy, a marine biologist and diver turned cinematograher made his name shooting the incredible images seen in the likes of David Attenborough series 'The Blue Planet' and 'The Life of Mammals'.

Wight wrote and directed 'Sanctum' following his own near-death experience potholing. The film earned over $100m from a budget of around $30m but garnered mixed reviews.

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