The helicopter pilot killed in a mid-air collision during a joy flight with tourists over the Gold Coast on the New Year's Day public holiday has been farewelled this afternoon.
Ashley Jenkinson was killed when the Sea World Helicopter he was flying collided with another over the Broadwater on January 2.
He was survived by his fiancée Kosha and his toddler son.
Family and friends gathered to remember the 40-year-old at a private funeral in Southport.
Mr Jenkinson's older brother Miles described his passion for flying helicopters, and said he was "fun, fearless and a role model in every way".
"He was a magnet and people wanted to come along for the ride.
"Whenever I think about Ash I think about how big his heart was, and how he always had time for his family and friends."
Ash's partner Kosha described him as "the love of her life".
She said becoming a father was the highlight of his life and said he was a "hands-on dad".
"My heart is broken at the loss of my present and my future with this man.
"I take comfort in the fact that the last thing we ever said to each other was 'I love you'.
"He's no longer here with us but he's still shining through my eyes and my future life with our son."
Mr Jenkinson's family extended their gratitude to the community for its support.
"Ashley was much-loved and we are understandably devastated and struggling to come to terms with his passing," they said in a statement.
Three of his passengers, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes and Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros, were also killed in the disaster.
Winnie de Silva and her son Leon were also on board his helicopter and are now recovering in hospital, while Ms Tadros's son Nicholas remains in a critical but stable condition in the Queensland Children's Hospital.
Sea World Helicopters released a statement last week remembering the company's chief pilot as "a first-class man, and a wonderful father and partner".
Friends and colleagues have spoken about his passion for helping others, including his efforts responding to the flooding in northern New South Wales last year by flying in supplies to devastated communities.
Mr Jenkinson became the chief pilot at Sea World Helicopters in 2019, with a flying career spanning almost 16 years and more than 6,000 hours.
He has run scenic flights in the Northern Territory and was a helicopter pilot instructor, with more than 2,500 hours instructing.
Recovering passengers pay tribute, offer prayers
Four tourists visiting the Gold Coast from New Zealand, who were on board the other helicopter involved in the collision, have shared their condolences for the family and friends of Mr Jenkinson on the day of his funeral.
In a statement, Marle and Edward Swart, Elmarie and Riaan Steenberg expressed their deepest sympathies and condolences to Mr Jenkinson's family, friends and colleagues.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and our hearts and beings are still terribly saddened for your loss, and so to the families of Ron and Diane Hughes, and Vanessa Tadros.
"We mourn with you today as you lay Ashley to rest, and hope you can find comfort in all the good memories you had with him.
"We will never be able to share your pain, all we can do is pray, and ask for strength and comfort to get through this ordeal."
