One dead as helicopter crashes at Bahamas millionaires' playground resort

One person was killed and four others injured when a helicopter carrying five American passengers crashed in a Bahamas millionaires' playground resort.

Florida television station CBS Miami identified one of the survivors as Jeffrey Soffer, principal of Florida-based property developer Turnberry Associates.

Renardo Curry, MP for North Abaco, said the helicopter was attempting to land at the exclusive Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club on Great Guana Cay when a wind gust sent the aircraft spiralling.

An employee of the resort community said he helped residents pull people out of the wreckage and described the crash as a "nightmare".

"They got into an air pocket and it went into a tailspin. It recovered, and then it went into a tailspin again and from there it hit the ground. The tail came off and the cabin just went into a spin and somebody got thrown out," said the man, who did not want to be named.

Baker's Bay, about 150 miles off Florida's eastern coast, includes an oceanfront golf course, private family beach club and boutiques.

There were about 180 people on the island property for Thanksgiving festivities, the resort employee said.

"Everyone who was there in one way or another helped out," said Superintendent Noel Curry of Abaco police.