A family has paid tribute to a couple who tragically died in a helicopter crash.
Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, from Wirral, had been visiting family in Australia after not seeing them since before the start of the coronavirus lockdown. The pair died in a horrific incident after two helicopters crashed into each other on Monday, January 2.
It is believed that one helicopter was landing while another was taking off near Sea World Drive in Main Beach. One of the helicopters was able to successfully land on a sandbank while dozens of people rushed to the scene to help casualties, the Liverpool Echo reports.
The pilot, named locally as Ash Jenkinson, 40, was reported to have died at the scene with three passengers, Mr and Mrs Hughes, and Vanessa Tadros, 36, from New South Wales. Meanwhile, Ms Tadros' son Nicholas, 10, was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Two other passengers, Winnie De Silva, 33, and her son Leon, nine, were also reportedly rushed to hospital. The family of Ron and Diane have released a tribute, describing them as "loyal, fun-loving and generous."
They highlighted that the loss will leave a "huge hole" in the family who are still coming to terms with the "tragedy". They added: "We are deeply saddened and still in a state of shock from the events that unfolded on Monday.
"Ron and Diane arrived last week visiting our family on the Gold Coast after being separated by Covid for the last few years. They were the most generous, loyal, fun-loving couple who had a zest for life and were loved and adored by everyone they met.
"Tragedies like this happen to “other people” and we are all struggling to come to terms with our loss. They leave a huge hole in our family and will be survived by parents, brothers, sons, daughters, and their cheeky grandkids.
"On behalf of our Australian and UK family, we would like to thank all the first responders, emergency services and Sea World staff for their heroics in trying to save our loved ones. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted and we pray for the recovery of survivors still in hospital.
"Finally, the outpouring of love from our friends, family and the Gold Coast community has touched us all and will never be forgotten."
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