Simon Tadros and Vanessa Tadros
(Picture: MOL Published Images)The husband of a woman killed in a helicopter crash on Australia’s Gold Coast today called on people to pray for his son who is fighting for his life.
Simon Tadros witnessed the collision between two Sea World sightseeing helicopters on Monday, which killed his 36-year-old wife Vanessa and three others, including a British couple.
Three people, including the Tadroses’ 10-year-old son Nicholas, are in hospital.
Mr Tadros said today: “I ask everyone to pray for the little man. He is on life support in a critical condition. May God pull him back with me.”
All those killed and badly injured were in the ascending helicopter, which collided with another helicopter that was landing less than 20 seconds after taking off from a sandbar in Main Beach.
Investigators are looking at what caused the collision, particularly the situation in the two cockpits at the time.
The other fatalities were British couple Diane Hughes, 57, her 65-year-old husband Ron, and 40-year-old Ashley Jenkinson, an experienced Sea World Helicopters pilot who was originally from Birmingham.
Mr and Mrs Hughes, from Neston, Cheshire, were visiting family in Australia. Mr Hughes’ daughter Jane Manns said: “Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know.”
A friend of Mr Jenkinson told the BBC the pilot was a “silent hero and gentle giant” who “would have done everything to bring the helicopter down safely”.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said his thoughts were with those affected by the incident.
“Australia is shocked by the news of the terrible and tragic helicopter incident,” he said in a tweet.
