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CHOPPER TRAGEDY
British husband & wife and new dad pilot, 40, among four killed as two Sea World helicopters crash mid-air in Australia
BRITISH newlyweds are among four dead after two tourist-filled helicopters collided in the air near a Sea World resort.
Three others including two children were fighting for their lives after the horror mid-air collision on the Gold Coast in Australia.
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One Sea World helicopter was taking off on a sightseeing flight and the other was landing when they smashed into each other, police spokesman Gary Worrell said.
The lower craft lost its main rotor and plunged upside down into a sandbank.
British holidaymakers on board - named by friends as Ron Hughes, 65, and wife Diane, 57, from Liverpool - were killed. They were married last year.
The couple had reportedly travelled to the Gold Coast to visit Ron’s daughter Jane Manns, her husband Ben and their kids.
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Jane and Ben said the family has been left "heartbroken" by the tragedy.
“Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know," they told Australian media.
"Please respect our privacy at this devastating time."
Diane's brother Dave Boyce added: "We would also like to thank you all for the love and support we have received.
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"We are truly humbled at this heartbreaking time."
Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros, 36, was named as another victim in Australian media. She was reportedly related to the Hugheses.
Her ten-year-old son was said to be critical in hospital last night, along with the other two passengers, a mum aged 33 and nine-year-old daughter.
Ash Jenkinson, 40, the chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters, was also killed in the crash.
The experienced flyer - who reportedly grew up in Birmingham before moving to Australia - had recently become a dad.
Heartbroken cousins in the West Midlands shared poignant posts after news of his death.
Ian Jenkinson wrote: "I am absolutely devastated at the sudden and tragic loss of my cousin, in such an awful accident.
"Although we were half a world apart we regularly messaged each other. I send my love and condolences to you all down-under. RIP, love ya Cuz."
Angela Jenkinson posted photos of them together on a visit to Oz and said: "Absolutely devastated of the news of our Aussie cousin.
"Our absolute love and sadness is with our Aussie family and friends."
Another UK relative, Charlie Jenkinson, said: "Fly High Cousin you will be deeply missed throughout. Your presence spanned from Aus to the UK."
Ash, known to hundreds on the Gold Coast as "Jenko", leaves behind a wife and a baby son.
Pal Ritchie Gregg paid tribute to the dad and remembered how the pilot helped the victims of the devastating floods in New South Wales and Queensland.
He said: "This will always be the highlight of my life and just one of your legacies when we helped flood people. Cheers."
Ritchie said he frantically messaged Ash when he heard from another friend via social media that there had been a crash.
He texted Ash: "Hope that wasn't you?"
The heartbroken pal said the pilot was "the most excited dad" - and added his wife is in "shock" after the tragedy, reports.
Colleague Penny Wilson remembered Jenkinson for his "golden heart" and "cheeky sense of humour".
'IS HE GOING TO CRASH?"
Horrifying footage showed the moments before the crash as tourists waiting for a flight saw the doomed chopper take off.
One child is heard saying: "Is he going to crash?" as the two black Sea World aircraft head towards a collision.
Investigators are probing why the pilots apparently did not see each other until it was too late.
They believe the main rotor blade of Ash's chopper - which was airborne for less than 20 seconds - struck the front cockpit of the descending aircraft.
Five of the six on board were cut by shards from the smashed windscreen, but the pilot managed to land alongside the wreck of the other chopper.
Sunbathers, boaters and jet ski riders then raced to help the victims, police said.
"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," Gary Worrell of the Queensland Police Service said.
"People on jet skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people.
"It's a difficult scene, Due to the area it's located, on the sand bank, it was difficult to gain access, to get our emergency services to the scene to manage it appropriately."
At least 13 people required treatment following the tragedy on Monday afternoon at around 2pm.
Angus Mitchell, head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said the loss of the rotor blade sent Ash's copter into an "uncontrolled fall".
He said: "That led to the main rotor in the gearbox separating from the main helicopter, which then had no lift and has fallen heavily to the ground."
He added it was "quite remarkable" that one of the helicopters had managed to land, and the tragedy could have been "far worse."
Witness Emma Burch told the Gold Coast Bulletin: "They clipped each other.
"Massive bang heard right through the Broadwater tourist park then the swooshing as the one that lost control hit the water and broke apart.
“It’s just awful. Everyone is in shock.”
Another witness said: "I heard a bang and saw smoke billowing from one of the choppers.
"It was smoking and wobbling to the ground."
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Local man Tor Kumpel said he and his wife were swimming at the nearby Broadwater estuary when he saw the crash.
"I could see two helicopters. One was coming up and the other one was coming down and the back rotor collected the one coming down," he told the .
"It was only one helicopter that crashed. The one that was coming up. It was horrific to see."
Eyewitness John, who was on holiday with his wife and toddler son on the Gold Coast, said he heard a "massive bang".
"It was just huge. I'm not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other," he told .
He said Sea World had "closed that side of the park now so people can't look out the side into the water there".
"It is literally just outside the theme park, we could hear it on that side," he added.
Amii McDermott, who saw the horror unfold, said there was "debris everywhere, the tail fell off one of them and the helicopter nosedived into the ground at full-speed".
She said she saw the emergency services arrive at the scene and call out for defibrillators.
'TERRIBLE AND TRAGIC'
Emergency teams have battled against rising tides and faced difficulty in gaining access with the heavy machinery they need.
Sea World Helicopters expressed its sympathy for those involved in the crash - and said it is cooperating with the authorities to find out what happened.
The company did not confirm if it operated one or both helicopters involved in the crash.
"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," a spokesperson said.
";We are cooperating with all the authorities including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police.
"As it is now a police investigation we cannot provide any further information at this stage."
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country had been left shocked by the "terrible and tragic incident".
"My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving," he added.
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.
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The Gold Coast council has set up an area for people to pay their respects and leave flowers and tributes.
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