TRANSCRIPT
Sebastián Piñera, the two-time former president of Chile has died after the helicopter he was traveling in crashed into a lake in the south of the country.
He was 74.
Chile Interior Minister Carolina Tohá has confirmed the death of the former president who held office from 2010 to 2014 and from 2018 to 2022.
"Other passengers are out of danger but this was not the case of the fourth passenger, former President Sebastian Pinera. A few moments ago we received confirmation from police that the navy was able to reach the place where the accident happened and they recovered the corpse of former president Pinera, who died."
The Chilean government has declared a period of national mourning and a state funeral for Mr Piñera.
"Sebastian Pinera was the democratic President of Chile, twice. As a result he will receive all the honours and republican recognition he deserves. President Pinera governed us and we will remember him for the way he dedicated and gave his life to public service. ... President Gabriel Boric [[BOR-ITCH]] has ordered a state funeral, for national mourning to be declared and in these first moments, we've sent his family our solidarity and support."
Chile's President Gabriel Boric addressed the nation shortly after Mr Piñera's death was announced.
"I've recently contacted Chile's former presidents Eduardo Frei, Ricardo Lagos and Michele Bachelet. All of them deeply regret the death of former President Sebastian Pinera. They will do everything possible to participate in his funeral. ... We are all Chile, and we should dream it, draw it and build it together. Sebastian Pinera said this when he assumed his second presidential term on March 11th, 2018. We send a big hug to his family and loved ones in these hard times."
Mr Piñera who was a billionaire businessman often spent the Southern Hemisphere summers near the picturesque lakes that dot Chile's south, and frequently piloted his own helicopter.
In his initial term, Mr Piñera facilitated rapid economic growth and a substantial reduction in unemployment in Chile.
Alonso Reyes is a driver from Chile.
“The death of President Sebastian Pinera is terrible. I’m not close to the right-wing, but I think he’s one of the best presidents Chile has had. He was president when Chile had more economical stability, money was visible, people could do things with their money. Therefore it was a good government in Chile. There were good and bad things. The death of someone that has done a lot is regrettable.”
One of the highlights of Mr Piñera's first administration was the rescue of 33 miners who were trapped beneath the Atacama desert in 2010 for two months.
He also played a crucial role in Chile’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the country achieving one of the fastest vaccination rates globally under his leadership.
But his second presidency faced challenges, including violent protests against inequality.
These protests led to accusations of human rights violations and culminated in the government’s commitment to draft a new constitution.
This left many Chileans seeing him in a bad light, including homemaker Patricia Venegas.
“It’s sad because he was a father, a grandfather and a husband. But there are no words to describe the damage he did to this country, there are no words for it. As a person I feel bad because he is a father and a grandfather, aside from that, history speaks for itself.”
Current and former presidents of several South American countries have paid tribute to Mr Piñera on their social media accounts.
