African politician cheated death - when his helicopter crashed just seconds after taking off

This dramatic video shows the moment an African politician cheated death - when his helicopter crashed just seconds after taking off.

Samuel Tunai, governor of the Kenyan town of Narok, in east Africa, attended a fundraising event yesterday (Saturday) when the horror crash occurred.

Mr Tunai and three other people had boarded the green, 'Camp Trust' chopper to be taken back to Nairobi, 90 miles away, at around 2pm, after the event.

But just minutes later, the helicopter tipped forward and crashed, nose-first, into the ground just a few feet underneath - with its propellers snapping off and being sent flying.

The shocking footage shows the helicopter just gaining momentum as it prepared to climb to the sky - but instead losing balance and colliding with the field beneath it.

Horrified locals, who had gathered round to see the governor off, rushed towards the fallen helicopter to try and help the passengers out.

And photographer Dicken Muchena, 27, who had been photographing the fundraising event, captured the heart-stopping moment on film.

He said: "On Saturday I witnessed a heartbreaking accident that almost claimed the lives of three people, including a Governor from the Rift Valley area of Kenya.

"The Governor Mr Tanui had visited his local home, Narok, for a fundraising event, which I attended to take photos for the organisers.

"After the event, the governor and three other people boarded the helicopter to return to Nairobi.

"I took my phone and recorded the taking-off, but unfortunately it crashed even before it could leave the locals.

"From the information I have gathered from people close by, the governor and three other passengers are in a critical condition in ICU."

However, African media network Citizen TV reported that the governor emerged unscathed from the helicopter wreckage - and had been taken to hospital in Nairobi for a "check-up".