VietNamNet Bridge – Soldier Nguyen Van Tuan of the Hanoi Command died at 10:45 am on July 19 after two weeks of treatment at the National Burn Institute because of his injuries, bringing the total number of soldiers who died in the accident to 19.

18 soldiers died in Hanoi helicopter crash

Hanoi's chairman Nguyen The Thao visited the injured soldiers at the National Burn Institute last week.

The remaining two soldiers are still in critical condition. Doctors said they have just passed through the stage of shock and still have to use a breathing machine. This is the most dangerous period because of the risk of bacterial contamination.

Doctors of the National Burn Institute said they had tried the best to save the soldiers. Dozens of doctors and nursing staff are present 24/7 in a sterilised room where the soldiers are treated.

The two soldiers who are still in treatment are Lieutenant Dinh Van Duong, 31, diagnosed with multiple injuries and burns covering 53% percent of his body, and Lieutenant Nguyen Hoang Anh, also 31, with multiple trauma and burns over 52% of his body.

The incident occurred at around 7:45am on July 7 in Hamlet No.11 of Thach Hoa commune, Hoa Lac, about 40 km to the west of Hanoi center, shortly after the helicopter took off from Hoa Lac airport, with 21 soldiers on board, who were undertaking a parachute training mission.

The Russian-built Mi-171 was said to lose altitude and hit the ground before exploding near a local market. The blaze was put out at around 08.30.

Eighteen soldiers died in the accident. On July 11, their funeral was held under military rites at the national funeral house, with the participation of thousands of people, including Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong and many army generals.

Le Ha