A British couple have been named among four dead after two helicopters collided in Australia.
The collision took place as one helicopter was landing while another was taking off at a tourist hotspot near Sea World, known as Main Beach, on the Gold Coast at around 2pm on Monday.
One of the choppers managed to successfully land on a sandbank, said Queensland Police, and the other crashed while containing seven people.
READ MORE: Ireland weather: Grim conditions forecast to hit with one county under 24 hour warning
The pilot, named locally as 40-year-old Ash Jenkinson, is reported to have died at the scene alongside three passengers, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and 36-year-old Vanessa Tadros from New South Wales.
Ms Tadros' 10-year-old son Nicholas was taken to hospital in a critical condition as were Winnie De Silva, aged 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon, it is reported, Mirror UK reports.
“Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know,” Jane and Ben Manns said in a statement to Australian media. Please respect our privacy at this devastating time.”
Diane's brother wrote on Facebook : “We would also like to thank you all for the love and support we have received. We are truly humbled at this heartbreaking time."
An FCDO spokesperson earlier said: "We are supporting the family of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities."
Ron and Diane Hughes, understood to be from Wirral in Merseyside, were married in August, 2021, and were holidaying in Australia, having travelled to the Gold Coast to visit Ron’s daughter Jane Manns, her husband Ben Manns and their children, reported 7News.com.au.
Devastated friends and family paid tribute to Mr Jenkinson, who was the chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters, which operates tours for the theme park. He leaves behind a wife and young son.
One person wrote: "You started as a work colleague and quickly became a mate. A huge tragedy! You are definitely going to be missed you absolute legend of a bloke."
Another colleague said: "A man with a such golden heart, cheeky sense of humour and always such a laugh to be around."
A friend Andy Taylor told 7News.com.au “he was a big guy with a big heart”.
“He did a lot of charity work. We did floods down in Ballina with a team of us who went down and saved a lot of people. Ash was a big part of it. He led us into ground zero and helped a lot," he said.
“He loved (flying). It was his life. But above all, he was a family man. He loved his family. His family was certainly first and helicopter second. But they were two passions of his life.”
Footage of the crash showed a helicopter shortly after take-off being clipped by another aircraft flying over the water.
Dan Hargreaves, who was at a cafe overlooking Seaworld at the time of the crash, told the Mirror how he heard a "loud bang like a big gunshot".
He said: "I saw the more damaged helicopter going down and hit the sand moments afterwards. It all happened in a matter of seconds, and was business as usual before that."
Mr Hargreaves, who is local to the area, says he sees many helicopters operating tours there on a daily basis.
He added: "Luckily no people were below the crash when it happened, as far as I could tell. Both helicopters ended up on an empty sandbank.
"There were hundreds of people on my side of the water that saw it too. Everyone was just looking on in shock unable to do anything.
"As many people that were near seemed to rush over, you could see them getting off jet skis and running over.
"Honestly it was traumatic and just devastating for the people involved."
One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank, but debris from the other was spread across an area which police described as difficult to access.
"Members of the public and police tried to remove the people and they commenced first aid and tried to get those people to safety from an airframe that was upside down," Mr Worrell said.
"(People on) Jet Skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people."
Passengers in the other helicopter, which lost its windscreen in the crash, were also receiving medical assistance.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the helicopter that was taking off was in the air for less than 20 seconds.
“After the collision, it was a matter of seconds before it’s hit the ground,” he told reporters. "So it has unfolded very quickly.”
The ATSB has started an investigation into the crash and is piecing together what happened.
Sea World Helicopters, a separate company from the theme park, expressed its condolences and said it was cooperating with the authorities handling the crash investigation.
"We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased," the statement said.
The company did not confirm if it operated one or both helicopters involved in the crash, saying it would not comment further because of the investigation.
A witness named John told Melbourne radio station 3AW that patrons at Sea World heard the crash, and staff moved swiftly to close off areas closest to the crash.
"There was a massive, massive bang," he said. "It was just huge.
"I'm not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other. But there was this poor lady and her son near the helipad in tears."
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the accident was an "unthinkable tragedy".
"My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident," she said.
The Gold Coast region is at its busiest in January, the peak time for holidays in Australia's summer.
READ NEXT:
- Young woman 'beaten and strangled' as body found in Cork flat hours after New Year festivities
- Chinese 2023 horoscope shows what Year of the Rabbit has in store for you based on 12 animal signs
- Rescue vehicles line Shannon Airport runway as plane declares emergency and woman rushed to hospital
- Millionaire Raffle: Lotto bosses confirm location of winning €1m ticket after New Year’s Eve draw
- Classy five-word comeback from pub to customer's complaint after 15 minute wait for carvery
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
