16 Sep 2010

Key visits Fox Glacier crash site

10:20 pm on 16 September 2010

Prime Minister John Key has visited Fox Glacier to offer his support following the plane crash which killed nine people.

Mr Key says it is important that he personally visited the West Coast town.

Residents say they are finding it hard to cope following the tragedy, which claimed five of its own residents and four tourists on 4 September.

The plane crashed seconds after taking off on a routine skydiving flight.

Mr Key spent half an hour at the crash site before meeting fire and ambulance crews who were first on the scene.

He then offered them $60,000 to help move a dilapidated ambulance facility into a new building.

Fox Glacier Community Development Board chairman Grant Gibb says they were not expecting the offer.

Mr Key says the money will come from the Prime Minister's discretionary fund.