The medical helicopter reported missing since Monday has been found by a rescue team on Saturday on the north shore of Passage Canal near Whittier. Only one body was discovered, that of flight nurse and ex-firefighter John Stumpff, 47, while the other three passengers, aboard the Eurocopter BK 117: patient Gaye McDowell, 60, pilot Lance Brabham, 42, and paramedic Cameron Carter, 25 were reported as missing.

A spokesman for the rescue team said: “We are going to assume there are survivors”, especially considering the favorable weather conditions.

The aircraft was transporting a patient from Cordova to an Anchorage hospital, when it last made contact with the operators, around 5 p.m. The distance between Cordova and Anchorage was said to bet of around 90 minutes, but the weather conditions were very difficult at the time.

The Alaska Air National Guard took part in the rescue mission, sending a C-130 and a Pave Hawk helicopter around the crash site. The U.S. Coast Guard also sent a 225-foot cutter Sycamore to investigate the surroundings. Volunteers for the search didn’t seize to appear: fishing boats from Whittier pilots from the Valdez Civil Air Patrol came to the aid.

Up until now, the rescuers have found wreckage identified as belonging to LifeGuard Alaska helicopter, including what appeared to be the left rear sliding door. The debris found will be turned in at the National Transportation Safety Board for further investigations.

With no news about the other three victims, the spokesman for the rescue team said: “This is by no means the end of the search effort. They are making arrangements and plans to see what needs to be done tomorrow.” In the meantime, everyone is praying for a good outcome of the search, and the rescue team will have no rest until the rest of the crew will be found.