TORN APART
Daughter of Brit couple who died in SeaWorld helicopter says ‘our family is heartbroken’ after mid-air smash kills four
THE daughter of a British couple killed in a horror helicopter crash in Australia said their family has been left "heartbroken".
Ron Hughes, 65, and his wife Diane, 57, were among four killed after two tourist-filled choppers collided mid-air near a Sea World resort.
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Three others including two children are fighting for their lives.
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.
Ron and Diane, from Liverpool, are understood to have been visiting Ron’s daughter Jane Manns, her husband Ben and their children.
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They had decided to take a Sea World Helicopter flight over the Gold Coast on Monday afternoon when tragedy struck.
Jane and Ben said the family has been left "heartbroken" by their deaths.
“Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know," they told .
"Please respect our privacy at this devastating time."
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Relatives of Ron and Diane - who tied the knot in August 2021 - are expected to touch down in Australia is the next few days.
Diane's brother Dave Boyce said: "We would also like to thank you all for the love and support we have received.
"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.
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He said: "This will always be the highlight of my life and just one of your legacies when we helped flood people. Cheers."
Colleague Penny Wilson remembered Jenkinson for his "golden heart" and "cheeky sense of humour".
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.
Eyewitness 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".
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."
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".
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"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".
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