First witness to arrive at scene of jet crash in Cornwall: 'You could not say it was an aircraft'
Jarek was working on a nearby roof when the Hawk from RNAS Culdrose came down in woodland near Helston
One of the first eyewitnesses to reach the scene of that Navy jet crash in Cornwall has described the wreckage as a mess.
The Hawk T-1 from RNAS Culdrose came down in woodland near Helston on Thursday morning.
Both pilots managed to eject and are said to be stable in hospital.
Jarek, who was working a nearby roof, called 999 after hearing what sounded like two explosions, before rushing to the scene to check for survivors.
"You could not say that was an aircraft"
"We heard this explosion and then another one. We saw this aircraft going down very low on the horizon.
"We call first for the fire brigade and we went there, first, looking for survivors.
"You can't see a scene such as this every day, especially in this place - it's very quiet.
"Parts was everywhere. A lot of cables. When we came closer, looking for some people inside, it was just like a ball of steel and some cables.
"It was horrible. You could not say that was an aircraft".
Crash Eyewitness, Jarek
Ben had popped out when the crash happened but returned to find emergency services in the field right behind his house.
"It came down in the field just behind the house and the guys ejected a couple of miles away.
"It's just all in the woods down Trelowarren; it's pretty smashed up. The fire brigade had been here all day and the police but that's about all I know".
He added: "I guess you don't expect a crash but we get a lot of activity here because the base is just there and they fly up the river a lot but you don't ever think of them coming down ever".
Local Resident, Ben
Mikey lives just over a mile away and has described the sound of the jet coming down as like a clap of thunder.
"I was half asleep and I'd just finishing fishing for the tide and I just heard what sounded like a rumble of thunder really but I thought 'it's not really that sort of weather'.
"They're planting the fields around me so I thought it might have been some sort of tractor.
"I then thought maybe it was someone shooting nearby and I just carried on".
Local Resident, Mikey