Glenmore Park community mourns mum Vanessa Tadros, killed in Sea World chopper crash
A heartbroken Sydney father, whose wife was killed in the horror Sea World helicopter crash, has asked the community to pray for his surviving son who has undergone a five-hour surgery.
NSW
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A shattered Sydney father who witnessed the Sea World helicopter crash that killed his wife has asked the community to “pray” for his surviving son, who is on life support after tragedy struck on their interstate holiday.
Simon Tadros’s wife Vanessa died instantly when the aircraft she and her son Nicholas were joy-riding in during a day out at the Gold Coast theme park collided with another identical helicopter shortly after takeoff, killing a total of four people.
Mr Tadros remains by his son’s bedside at Gold Coast University Hospital where the 10-year-old remains fighting for life, having undergone four surgeries since the crash.
A cousin of Vanessa Tadros’ said Nicholas would be transferred from a Gold Coast hospital to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, following a successful five-hour surgery.
“The surgery went well and the bleeding stopped,” the cousin told the Courier Mail.
“His state is still critical but I guess better. He’s strong enough and being a kid, his ability and chance to heal is higher.”
Mr Tadros said as he comes to terms with his wife’s death he is now just praying for his “little man” to survive so he can be “back with him”.
“I ask everyone to pray for the little man,” Mr Tadros wrote on Facebook.
“He is on life support in a critical condition. So please he needs all the prayers he can get.
“Please keep your prayers strong, may God pull him back with me and make a good recovery.”
He also revealed his wife’s event planning business, Vee Vee Creations, would be shut down.
“Vee Vee Creations will be closing down,” he wrote on social media.
“I will be going through Vanessa’s records to see which events have to be refunded or cancelled.
“I’m sorry to anyone that this has inconvenienced.”
A GoFundMe created by family friend Rochelle Fajloun revealed Mr Tadros witnessed the incident.
“Simon distressingly witnessed the accident unfold and is totally shattered,” Ms Fajloun said.
“With all of the emotional pain that death brings, it can also bring significant financial burden. Any donations that can help the family during this difficult period will be most appreciated.”
The fundraiser has already raised more than $3000.
On Tuesday, neighbours back in Sydney described the family as “the sweetest family we’ve ever lived next to”.
They are like (our own) family, our kids go to school together,” Samuel Gobraiel said.
“Vanessa was the nicest person you’d ever meet in your life, she was kindness personified.
“An amazing mother, wife, friend, everything. A great member of the community.”
“It’s just terrible news, it’s absolutely horrible,” he said.
“You see someone for the last time and you don’t even realise. I can’t even imagine what Simon is going through now, it’s unimaginable.”
Ms Tadros worked as an event planner and owned her own business, which is how she became close friends with Tanya Perin.
“We met for our first consultation and it was like we knew each other for years,” a heartbroken Ms Perin said.
“I am so grateful that I was lucky enough to have met such a beautiful human, she definitely didn’t deserve this and I hope her boy Nicky pulls through and makes his mumma proud.
“I had only just spoken to her on Sunday night through Instagram about my brother and sister in-laws engagement, and wishing each other a Happy New Year and (said) we’d speak soon.
“Vanessa was a loving, caring, bubbly and just such a happy soul, her presence lit up the room. She had this infectious smile and laugh that no matter what mood you were in as soon as you spoke to her you were smiling too.”
Tributes have also flowed for the pilot of the doomed helicopter who had just months earlier become a dad.
Ash Jenkinson has also been remembered for his selfless efforts during the 2021 flood disaster in Northern NSW, when he gave up his time to fly in much needed essentials to those left stranded by the floodwaters.
“If you heard my call and brought supplies to Kingsford Smith Park to be choppered out to flood survivors – Ash flew them there,” Ballina local Deanie White said.
“If you received bags of food and loo paper and nappies via helicopter from Ballina, Ash brought them to you.
“He was a kind, generous man. If it wasn’t for Ash, those flights would never have happened.”
Ron and Diane Hughes, from Liverpool in the northwest of England, were sitting in the front seat next to Mr Jenkinson when the crash occurred.
The couple had only married last year and were holidaying in Australia, with friends saying their hearts had been “broken” by the sad news.
Investigators remained at the crash site throughout Tuesday trying to piece together just how the helicopter crash unfolded.
One helicopter was removed at about 7am on an outgoing tide as the second remained partially submerged in the water off Sea World.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is leading the investigation, with its Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the process now was to gather “all the intelligence and all the evidence” from witnesses, CCTV and the wreckage.
– with Courier Mail
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Originally published as Glenmore Park community mourns mum Vanessa Tadros, killed in Sea World chopper crash
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