Changes

The British claim that a downed Gazelle helicopter pilot (Sergeant Andy Evans) was mortally wounded while struggling in the water first spread like wildfire with the publication of Martin Middlebrook’s first book on the Falklands War ('Operation Corporate', Viking, 1985), who believed the mistaken claims from the locals (Thora Alazia, Suzanne McCormick and others) that Evans had been shot and killed after his helicopter ditched into San Carlos Water.

The British claim that a downed Gazelle helicopter pilot (Sergeant Andy Evans) was mortally wounded while struggling in the water first spread like wildfire with the publication of Martin Middlebrook’s first book on the Falklands War ('Operation Corporate', Viking, 1985), who believed the mistaken claims from the locals (Thora Alazia, Suzanne McCormick and others) that Evans had been shot and killed after his helicopter ditched into San Carlos Water.

However, British accounts clearly show that Sergeant Evans was already mortally wounded but alive before his Gazelle helicopter crashed into the sea. And Evans was not hit while struggling in the icy cold waters. The co-pilot, Sergeant Edgard Candlish, was also not shot and was able to swim to safety after cutting Evan’s free from the wreckage and dragging the pilot halfway to the shoreline.<ref>‘Flying Marines: A History of Royal Marines Aviation’ (available online)</ref>

However, more recent British accounts clearly show that Sergeant Evans was already mortally wounded but alive before his Gazelle helicopter crashed into San Carlos Water. And Evans was not hit while struggling in the icy cold waters. The co-pilot, Sergeant Edgard Candlish, was also not shot and was able to swim to safety after cutting Evan’s free from the wreckage and dragging the pilot halfway to the shoreline.<ref>‘Flying Marines: A History of Royal Marines Aviation’ (available online)</ref>

In 1992, the widow of Sergeant Evans called for a war crime investigation of his death but the case foundered due to evidence showing his fatal injury having been caused while still flying his helicopter, rather than after the crash as mistakenly reported at the time.<ref>''"Sergeant Andy Evans from Landrake in Cornwall, had been married to his wife Julie for 12 years. They had two little children, Samantha and Mark. Ten years after the war, his widow called for an investigation of his death but the case foundered due,  it appears to his fatal injury having been caused before his crash, rather than after as inferred by his co-pilot's statement."''

In 1992, the widow of Sergeant Evans called for a war crime investigation surrounding his death but the case foundered due to evidence showing his fatal injury having been caused while still flying his helicopter, rather than after the crash as mistakenly reported at the time.<ref>''"Sergeant Andy Evans from Landrake in Cornwall, had been married to his wife Julie for 12 years. They had two little children, Samantha and Mark. Ten years after the war, his widow called for an investigation of his death but the case foundered due,  it appears to his fatal injury having been caused before his crash, rather than after as inferred by his co-pilot's statement."''

The Falklands War: Then and Now, Gordon Ramsey, pg, 194, After The Battle, 2009</ref>

The Falklands War: Then and Now, Gordon Ramsey, pg, 194, After The Battle, 2009</ref>