A Victorian mother who survived an "unthinkable" helicopter crash on the Gold Coast that claimed four lives has thanked the public for their "kind thoughts and healing prayers" as she and her son recover.
Geelong woman Winnie De Silva, 33, and her son, Leon, 9, were seriously injured when their helicopter collided, mid-air, with another helicopter carrying two couples from New Zealand.
Ms De Silva remains in a stable condition at the Gold Coast University Hospital, while her son also remains in a stable condition at the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane after spending three days in a critical condition.
Speaking from her hospital bed, Ms De Silva said the public's kind messages had helped her stay positive.
"Yesterday, I had a video call with Leon, and he gave me a thumbs-up and one of his big, beautiful smiles," she said in a statement.
"Today he spoke two words, 'My leg' which gives me hope that he is getting stronger each day."
'An unthinkable time'
Ms De Silva said she had more surgery scheduled next week.
"My complete focus is on getting better so that, within the next couple of weeks, I can be with Leon and support his recovery," she said.
"I can't wait to hug my beautiful, brave boy!"
She thanked the public for their generous contributions to an online fundraiser for their family.
"More importantly, I continue to pray for the recovery of young Nicholas, who was seated near me in the helicopter, and offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the other passengers.
"It is an unthinkable and difficult time for us all."
British couple Diane, 57, and Ronald Hughes, 65, were killed in the crash, alongside pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40.
Vanessa Tadros, 36, was also killed in the crash and her 10-year-old son, Nicholas, remains in a critical condition.
Nicholas has been fighting for his life at the Gold Coast University Hospital, where he has been in a critical condition for several days.
His father, Simon Tadros, witnessed the accident and has asked people for prayers on social media.
"I ask everyone to pray for the little man," he wrote.
Church service set to 'pray for a miracle'
A special mass dedicated to the Tadros family will be held tomorrow at St Padre Pio Parish at Glenmore Park, Western Sydney, where the family attend church.
Father Suresh Kumar said the service would be for “the healing of little Nicholas”.
“His father has requested all of us pray for him,” he said.
The mass will be attended by students and teachers from Nicholas’s school.
“He is very critical, very serious. All that we can do is pray for a miracle. Doctors are doing their best for little Nicky, but I think only a miracle can save him,” Father Kumar said.
Father Kumar said churchgoers would also pray for Nicholas’s mother, Vanessa, who died in the crash and has been described as a “gentle soul”.
He said the Tadros family were a big part of the parish community and Nicholas was an altar server.
“[Nicholas] only received his communion last year and he is very keen on serving,” he said.
“It is devastating for all of us. We cannot believe it is at our doorstep.
“When we first heard the news — we hadn’t heard the names — that itself was tragic enough.
"When we came to know who it was, it was just terrible.”
It comes as members of the public have planned a memorial event on January 15, with mourners to form a human chain along the Gold Coast Broadwater to remember victims and those who came to their aid.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the crash, with the cause of the collision yet to be determined.
Investigators say photos and video footage from the passengers who survived the accident will be central to the crash investigation.
