Two British anglers on an \u2018ultimate\u2019 fishing trip in the remote Russian Arctic were killed in a helicopter crash yesterday.<\/p>\n
The men and their Russian guide died when they were hit by the rotor blades of their chartered aircraft.<\/p>\n
Both Britons were said to be in their late sixties and were on a custom salmon fishing trip to the Kola Peninsula, 90 miles from the port city of Murmansk.<\/p>\n
They were named by Russian officials but the Foreign Office would not confirm their identities until their families were informed.<\/p>\n
As the craft attempted to take off, it banked suddenly to one side and its rotor blades hit the men where they stood with their guide, Alexander Tushnikov.<\/p>\n
The pilot, said to have 25 years\u2019 flying experience, survived the crash with injuries.<\/p>\n
Lines of inquiry are likely to include whether the helicopter was caught by a sudden gust of wind, causing it to tilt, or if it suffered a mechanical failure.<\/p>\n
The Kola Peninsula was previously a top secret area, home to the Red October submarine base and the Soviet navy\u2019s northern fleet.<\/p>\n
Now it is known as the ultimate destination for high-end fishing tours for Atlantic salmon, attracting anglers from around the world.<\/p>\n
Operators say the region has not been overfished like many popular salmon rivers and that competent anglers can catch more than 100 salmon in a week, with some fish weighing up to 40lb.<\/p>\n
The peak season runs from June to August, when the area north of the Arctic Circle enjoys 24-hour daylight.<\/p>\n
Outside the season, the rivers are frozen for three or four months a year.<\/p>\n
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