A search and rescue crew from 19 Wing Comox rescued the lone survivor of a helicopter crash near Bute Inlet on Tuesday.

The Royal Canadian Air Force says 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron responded to the crash at Stafford Lake under the direction of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria.

Three people were on board the helicopter. One person survived, while the other two passengers died.

A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft were dispatched from 19 Wing Comox.

Search and Rescue Technicians were lowered into the steep, mountainous crash site to reach the survivor, who was then hoisted aboard the Cormorant and flown back to 19 Wing Comox.

The survivor was transferred to BC Emergency Health Services for medical care.

The Canadian Armed Forces says the Cormorant and Kingfisher are the Royal Canadian Air Force's primary search and rescue aircraft for the Victoria Search and Rescue Region.

Crews at 442 Squadron remain on standby around the clock and can be deployed within minutes to respond to emergencies across the region.