Sydney family’s lucky escape in Sea World chopper crash: ‘We were literally next’

A Sydney couple and their daughter were next in line to get on a Sea World helicopter when a horrific mid-air crash unfolded in front of their eyes.

A Sydney couple and their eight-year-old daughter were next in line to get on a Sea World helicopter when the horrible crash that killed four people unfolded in front of their eyes.

Dramatic video captured by the woman just seconds after the two helicopters collided in mid-air shows one of the two aircraft struggling to land from the damage of the crash, as the wreckage of another lies below on a sandbank.

Pilot Ash Jenkinson - originally from Coffs Harbour - and three passengers on the chopper were killed as hundreds of theme park visitors watched on in terror.

The holiday-maker – who had a panic attack after witnessing the tragedy and asked to be kept anonymous – said she, her husband and their daughter had watched on excitedly as an elderly couple, a mother and her son, and another person boarded the ultimately doomed flight.

She said just seconds later, as that helicopter lifted off the helipad, it collided with a returning aircraft, lost its propellers and fell “25 to 30 metres” straight out of the sky.

CONTENT WARNING: Some viewers may find the following story disturbing.

At least four people have been killed and more are injured after two helicopters crashed this afternoon at Sea World on the Gold Coast. @JayneAzzo#9News

MORE: https://t.co/Bdwopv6j5rpic.twitter.com/n1o2hDVfvF

— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) January 2, 2023

“We are up from Sydney for a holiday on the Gold Coast and we spent the day at Sea World and thought we would book in for a joy flight,” the woman told The Daily Telegraph.

“We watched the helicopter load with the people. There was the pilot and two elderly people in the front, a lady and a little boy next to her in the back, and another person next to them.

“They buckled everyone up, everything was normal, everyone was excited, then we watched it all happen.”

The devastating wreckage of two Sea World Helicopters which collided mid-air just outside the tourist park on a sandbank. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“The helicopter that just took off collided into the one above. Its propellers just got ripped straight off, it was 25 to 30 metres high at that point.

“And then it fell.

“With no propellers it just dropped, it fell onto the sand bank and turned onto its side.”

Four people have died and many more have been injured after the two helicopters collided. Picture: 9 NEWS

Witnesses captured the horrific mid-air collision on camera. Picture: 9 NEWS

Video shows shocked operators trying to piece together what had just unfolded in front of them as smoke rises from the helicopter that had crashed onto the sandbank.

“Ohh s**t … f**k,” a witness can be heard screaming.

Above to the right the second helicopter can be seen battling to land safely.

The Brisbane-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue crew airlifted one of the child victims to hospital. Picture: RACQ LifeFlight

The injured primary-school aged child was transported from the scene of the crash by boat, before paramedics moved them to the waiting helicopter. Picture: RACQ LifeFlight

“The other helicopter had some damage, it was twisting and turning to try and safely land as best it could,” the Sydney woman said.

“The (Sea World operator) was like ‘Get the defibs (defibrillator), get the first-aid kit. Everyone jumped into full rescue mode.

“But there was a man next to us saying: ‘My parents were on that flight’ … I just feel so sad for him and for everyone involved.

“I just had a panic attack. I just realised it could have been us, we were literally the next ones, we were that lucky.

“It is a shocking tragedy.”

Australia is shocked by the news of the terrible and tragic helicopter incident today on the Gold Coast.

My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving.

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 2, 2023

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the mid-air disaster as a “terrible and tragic incident”, offering condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured.

“Australia is shocked by the news,” he said.

“My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving.”

Originally published as Sydney family’s lucky escape in Sea World chopper crash: ‘We were literally next’