THE death toll from an RAF helicopter crash in the region yesterday rose to three after an Army recruit died of his injuries.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the soldier, from the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, died in hospital with his family at his side.

Seven other ITC recruits, a member of staff from the centre and an airman were injured in the accident, in North Yorkshire, in which pilot Flight Lieutenant David Sale, 28, and crewman Sergeant Phillip Burfoot, 27, died.

An RAF spokesman said three people had been discharged from hospital and the others continued to make steady progress.

None of the injured have been named, and details of the soldier who died yesterday will not be released until later today.

The Puma helicopter crashed in a field near Hudswell Grange, three miles west of Catterick Garrison, at 9pm on Wednesday, during a training exercise.

Brigadier David Clements, commandant at the ITC, said: "We are all totally stunned by the news that one of the recruits in Wednesday's helicopter accident has died."

He said the Army's thoughts and prayers were with his family.

It is understood the soldier was one of five people taken to The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, after the crash. Two were taken to the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, one to Darlington Memorial Hospital and two to Newcastle.

As accident investigators continued to search the wreckage, the family of Sgt Burfoot paid tribute to him.

A statement issued from their home in Cardiff said: "Phillip loved the active lifestyle and opportunities given to him whilst serving in the RAF.

"During his time in service, he made many friends throughout the country, but what meant most to him was the camaraderie with his fellow servicemen.

"He will be deeply missed by his family, whose thoughts are also with the families of those involved in the accident."

The airmen served with 33 Squadron, based at RAF Benson, in Oxfordshire.

The RAF would not speculate on what caused the crash, but David Learmount, the operations and safety editor at Flight International magazine, said reports of the helicopter rolling on its side in the air suggested its balancing mechanism could have failed.

He said: "It could be one of hundreds of mechanical failures connected to either the main rotor or the tail rotor, which provides a counterbalance."

The MoD yesterday confirmed it implemented most of the recommendations from a report into a crash involving a Puma helicopter seven years ago, also near Catterick.

Nine people were injured, one seriously, when the Puma carrying recruits from the Army Foundation Training College, at Harrogate, came down on Hipswell Moor, near Catterick Garrison, in April 2000.

Last night, Wing Commander Rick Wakeman said most of the recommendations from a report into the crash had been implemented.

It included more training for pilots and greater use of engine handling simulators, along with new evacuation procedures for when an aircraft is grounded and tips on its side.

However it had proved hard to fit accident data recorders and cockpit voice recorders to existing Pumas, another of the recommendations made.

Wg Cdr Wakeman said the Pumas would be rebuilt as part of a programme to keep them in service until 2022.