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Source: photos.com
An award-winning American cinematographer and the Australian writer-producer of one of 2011's top-grossing Australian films have died in a fiery helicopter crash on the NSW south coast.
The dead men have been named on social media websites as Mike deGruy, aged 60, from Santa Barbara in California, and Andrew Wight, aged 51, from Victoria.
The two died when their helicopter crashed as it was taking off from an airstrip south of Berry on Saturday afternoon.
They were reportedly scouting locations for an upcoming project.
David Bennett, president of the South Coast Recreational Flying Club, said the men had set off to do some filming for a documentary at Jervis Bay.
DeGruy had won multiple BAFTA and Emmy awards for cinematography. He was a specialist in underwater cinematography.
Wight was the writer-producer of the 3D film Sanctum, which was shot on the Gold Coast and went on to take $A100m worldwide at the box office last year. Sanctum was said to have been based on his near-death experience in an underwater cave.
At the time of the crash, Wight was reportedly working on a project with American director James Cameron, the man behind Titanic and Avatar. Cameron was the executive producer of Sanctum.
Wight was recently named the head of Cameron Pace, Cameron's first international 3D production office, based in Australia.
Four days before the crash deGruy, who came from Santa Barbara, tweeted: "Been in Australia 2 weeks, one to go then off to PNG. Love this place - especially Sydney on Australia Day."
The Deep Sea News said on Sunday of deGruy's death: "It's a great loss for the world whenever someone passes who has devoted their career to conveying to the public the beauty and wonder of the oceans.
"Smooth sailing, Mike, we're sorry to see you go so soon."
The TED website also farewelled the 60-year-old "ocean photographer, filmmaker and storyteller".
"Mike was truly one of the great teachers and advocates for the oceans," it said.
deGruy's website states that, in addition to filmmaking, he had become a speaker and had interviewed James Cameron, Sir David Attenborough and Al Gore on stage.
"Mike has dived under the ice at both poles, been to all continents, become a submersible pilot, dived hundreds of times in many types of submersibles, filmed the hydrothermal vents in both the Atlantic and the Pacific and had more meals on the Titanic, now resting at 12,500 feet deep, than did the doomed passengers," his website states.
DeGruy's Twitter account states that he boarded a flight to Australia on January 15.
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