Andrew White (left), who had just left a meeting with director James Cameron (right)
A sudden tragedy took the lives of two well-known filmmakers and also caused renowned Hollywood director James Cameron to "lose two right-hand men." According to French media reports on the 6th, at around 2 pm local time on February 4, 52-year-old filmmaker Andrew White and 60-year-old Mike DeGori were involved in a helicopter crash in southern Sydney, both tragically losing their lives. White and DeGori had previously collaborated with Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron on multiple films and had also worked for National Geographic magazine. On the 6th, National Geographic confirmed the news of their deaths on its official website, and Cameron also expressed deep sorrow for the loss of these two "dear friends in life and work" in a statement.
According to local Australian media, White and DeGori were preparing to film a documentary about Papua New Guinea at the time. White was the owner of the helicopter and was also the pilot when the accident occurred. Police revealed: "Witnesses spotted the crash and immediately called emergency services." Rescue workers arrived quickly at the scene, but the helicopter was severely damaged, and the two men inside were unrecognizable due to the extent of the injuries.
White was not only an old friend of Cameron but also a renowned underwater cave explorer. He adapted his own real-life cave exploration experiences in Western Australia to create the recent hit 3D film Sanctum, while DeGori served as Cameron’s go-to diver, handling underwater photography for Cameron’s documentary The Last Secrets of the Titanic.
In National Geographic’s official statement, a tribute from Cameron was included: "They (Andrew White and Mike DeGori) were doing what they loved most—diving deep into the ocean and venturing into the unknown. They were not only passionate storytellers but also brimmed with the humor, focus, optimism, and bravery of true adventurers. Their passing is a tremendous loss to the underwater exploration community and the film industry."
It is worth noting that just three weeks ago, Cameron had just announced the opening of a 3D studio in Melbourne, and the 3D version of Titanic was set to hit the big screen this spring. The sudden loss of two close friends and key collaborators has hit Cameron especially hard.